An introduction to Qiang folk paper-cutting

The Qiang paper-cuts are mostly used as daily decoration paper-cuts: embroidery is the most popular, some are used to beautify the home during festivals, and some are witchcraft paper-cuts used to ward off disasters and ward off evil spirits. During the traditional festival "Mountain Festival", paper-cut flowers are hung on indoor shrines in every household to commemorate the legendary "Muse Pearl" that saved beasts by cutting paper. The cut-outs include flowers, birds, beasts, livestock, gods and monsters. Most of them are cut without drawings and are simple. concise. Qiang folk paper-cutting vividly reflects the lives, thoughts, emotions and ideals of the Qiang people.

The content widely includes dragons and phoenixes, sun and moon, characters, birds and beasts, various geometric patterns, mandarin ducks, birds, cattle, sheep, fish, folk stories, etc. The paper-cut pattern has a simple composition, a strong overall sense, a strong contrast between the real and virtual patterns, is simple and bright, and has strong artistic expression. Most of the Qiang paper-cutting experts are women, who use paper-cutting to beautify their clothes and the environment. Paper-cutting often uses a knife to carve out the outline and dynamics of objects. The combination of dots and surfaces makes the picture full of rhythm and rhythm. The composition is full and rigorous, and exaggerated deformation is often used, which is highly decorative.