Bun-grabbing dolls in Zhongyang Luliang folk paper-cutting
Among the folk paper-cut works in Zhongyang, the bun-grabbing doll is the most widely circulated pattern. Its image can be found in the rock paintings and painted pottery of prehistoric society unearthed locally, as well as the emblem of the "Tian" tribe. Its basic form is The arms are flexed, the legs are spread apart, the hair is decorated with double buns (double chickens), and it is a symmetrical "human" shape with distinctive symbolic characteristics. This symbol has been transformed into the image of a doll holding a bun for thousands of years, surviving in the peoples customs and becoming the legacy of the concept of ancestor worship in todays society.
1. Bun dolls with witchcraft functions such as exorcizing ghosts, attracting souls, and sending illnesses away
Among the folk paper-cut bun dolls in Zhongyang, there is a type of works that are specially used to drive away ghosts, attract souls, and send illnesses away. As consumer arts attached to folk customs, they are realized in folk witchcraft. "In fact, the combination of folk art activities and witchcraft activities, which are the source of national art, is the main feature of folk art. At present, in the rural areas of Zhongyang County, there is still a custom of asking shamans to call ghosts to cure the sick patients. Usually at night, the patients family invites a wizard (locally known as "healing evil") to their home. No outsiders are allowed in the home except their own family members. The wizard treats the patient in a separate room, and no other family members are allowed to be present. , saying that he was afraid of shocking the patients soul. At this time, the wizard cut five or seven bun dolls holding hands from yellow paper and placed them on the altar set up to receive incense. Then they placed them on the patient and circled them three times. And chanted: "What is the patients surname, what is your surname, what is the patients name, what is your name, you and the patient were born in the same year, the same month, the same day... The patient will be smiling, the paper man will be crying, the true soul is in the patients body, all disasters will be avoided." You take it away, and I will take you to the cross...". Then the wizard burned the paper figure in a bowl of water and dumped it at the crossroad. In the wizards view, the patient became ill because of ghosts, which caused the persons soul to leave the body. Use a bun doll as a stand-in, and as the paper figurine is incinerated, the patient will come back to life and recover. In addition, there is also a hand-held bun doll that is affixed indoors or on the lintel to ward off evil and protect safety. Yes&ld"The sky is not afraid, the earth is not afraid, only the fork of the bun doll is afraid." From the above two applications of bun dolls in folk customs, it can be seen that the "pink bun doll" has a certain influence in the consciousness of the local people. The witchcraft function of reviving the soul and exorcising ghosts and avoiding evil spirits is the remnant of the original human concept of animism and immortality in todays society.
2. The bun doll with the function of stopping rain
Zhongyang County is located in northwest Shanxi and close to northern Shaanxi. It has a warm temperate sub-arid climate. Although there is a saying of "nine droughts in ten years", heavy rainfall is concentrated in the months every year, which often causes serious floods. If there is continuous rain, women in rural areas will cut out the "Sweeping Goddess" to stop the rain. Its image is like a bun doll holding a broom in one hand and a gray bag in the other. Some brooms are directly cut out, and some are real brooms. The hair is attached to the part of the paper-cut image of the hand, and then tied with a thread, tied to the tip of the pole, inserted into the grinding eye of the yard, and chants: "The clouds have swept to all sides, and the sun has swept into the sky." In their opinion, this paper man is so magical. They all believe that as long as they do this, the rain will stop immediately. According to the records cited in "Huainanzi Xian Mingxun" by Mr. Jin Zhilin, the prototype of the "mother-in-law" (grabbing bun doll) who swept the sky and stopped the rain was Nuwa, who "accumulated reed ashes to stop the rain." In addition, "Lunheng·Shungu Pian" also records that "if the rain does not stop for a long time, the community will be attacked and sacrifices will be made to Nuwa". From this point of view, it is credible that the "Sweeping Goddess" who stops the rain and sweeps the sky is a variation and remnant of Nuwas folk beliefs.
3. Bun dolls with fertility and reproduction functions
In the folk customs of the local people, in addition to the functions of expelling ghosts, attracting souls, and stopping rain mentioned above, the bun doll also has the function of promoting reproduction and fertility. The locals call it "Xi doll". "Happy dolls" are usually placed in the bridal chamber when getting married, which symbolizes the continuation of many children and grandchildren, and are commonly known as "happy flowers". Compared with the witchcraft and sacrificial dolls, the "Xihua" bun dolls have outstanding features in shape, that is, the reproductive organs are emphasized and protruded. This kind of "happy flower" bun doll is decorated with two chickens on the head, a masculine symbol on the chest, a "lotus" pattern symbolizing women on the abdomen, and a masculine symbol underneath the lotus pattern, which expresses the union of men and women and the endless life consciousness.
