Simple symbols and patterns in Chinese folk paper-cutting
The language of Chinese folk paper-cut art is an image language. It is a symbolic form used by working people to express their thoughts. It is an important tool for Chinese folk paper-cut art and its authors to communicate with their audiences. The general characteristics and laws are extracted by working people relying on daily observation, through a high level of understanding of things, and overcoming the constraints of materials and tools. The language of Chinese folk paper-cut art refers to the basic stylized points, lines, blocks, patterns, patterns and expression techniques used in its composition and modeling. These morphemes, like human language, are simple and practical; working people use them to create a variety of paper-cut works. This kind of figurative language is the crystallization of the wisdom of the working people.
The patterns often used in the formal expression of Chinese folk paper-cut art mainly include "zigzag pattern", "crescent pattern", "cloud water pattern", "arrow cluster pattern" and so on. Zigzag pattern: It is formed by continuously pushing and pulling the paper regularly during the cutting process, or by changing the cutting direction and gestures. Folk paper-cutting authors have mastered the expression rules of "zigzag patterns" in their artistic practice. They use the changes and contrasts in length, size, fatness, thinness, sharpness, density, straightness, hardness and softness, and combine the characteristics of different objects to flexibly express different image. In "The Legend of White Snake", the characters' hair, headgear, cuffs, skirt hems, trousers, shoe accessories, and collars are all represented by zigzag patterns. "Fire Tower" uses a soft deformed "zigzag pattern". The feathers of tigers, feathers of birds, the textures of mountains and rocks, the hands and feet of characters, the tails of fish, etc. are all expressed with "zigzag patterns". "Zigzag pattern" is also often used to express flowers, beards, leaf vein textures, etc. The use of "zigzag pattern" has a long history. From the paper-cut restorations unearthed in the Astana area of ??Xinjiang, we can see that the paper-cut works of the Southern and Northern Dynasties have skillfully used the "zigzag pattern". The outer circle of the work is composed of two-way It is composed of zigzag pattern, and the geometric pattern inside is hollow with different widths“Zigzag pattern" group.
"Crescent pattern" and "Cloud water pattern", these two different arc patterns can be used alone or in combination. "Crescent pattern" and "cloud water pattern" cannot be understood as the names suggest. They are not only used to express crescent moon or cloud water, but more often are used to express other objects flexibly. They have the form of yang diagram and yin diagram. The continuous form of the "crescent pattern" can be transformed into a "cloud water pattern", and the intermittent expression of the "cloud water pattern" will have the characteristics of the "crescent pattern". They can also make various changes in length, size, width, etc. according to the needs of the shape. Among them, the "cloud water pattern" can be divided into two types: regular type and irregular type. The regular type is similar to the continuous "crescent pattern", and other lines with various different bends are irregular types. The patterns on the lower end of the land boat cover and the bottom of the hull are "cloud and water patterns". The author uses the reverse contrast of the yin and yang diagram of "cloud and water patterns" to make the easily dull ship shape gorgeous and graceful, giving a dynamic rhythm to the static state. The patterns on the corner and top of the land boat, as well as the flowers and leaves on the hull, are also deformed applications of the "cloud and water pattern". The textures of lanterns and cover cloths are processed with the "crescent pattern". Radish leaves, tree trunks, and cabbage are also used. "Cloud and water patterns" are used to express it. One is a lion on land and the other is a fish in the water. Different types of objects use the same language "crescent pattern". The uses of "crescent pattern" and "cloud and water patterns" are, Many practical examples can also be given.
Arrowhead pattern: It is cut by folding and shearing method. It also has different changes in size, width, length, density, etc. It can be used alone or continuously; it can be used horizontally or vertically. The wonderful uses of folk paper-cutting hands often amaze people. In the "arrowhead pattern", most people use the yin pattern, but less people use the yang pattern. The characters eyebrows, eyes, nose, and mouth are exactly the application of the "arrowhead pattern" positive pattern. The two characters, one male and one female, use the same expression technique, but they give people different looks. The man is mighty but graceful, and the woman is dignified and delicate, showing her ladylike temperament. The characters' noses, mouths, necks, collars, trousers, and S-shaped patterns are all different images represented by the negative "arrow pattern". The history of the use of "arrowhead patterns" can be traced back to the Southern and Northern Dynasties based on the restored picture of the paper-cut "Monkey Tuanhua" unearthed in Xinjiang.
Many images in the art of paper-cutting use these patterns as vocabulary for formal expression, making paper-cutting form a language mode. In this language mode, paper-cutting produces a stylized rhythm. This kind of rhythm makes the artistic image of paper-cutting relatively photographic different from the objective natural object image, creating a strong decorative meaning. Among the decorative factors in the collection of paper-cut patterns, the modal rhythm of traditional patterns is the most important. The decorative meaning it forms is the personalized feature of paper-cut art.
