Lian Zhengyi

01 · Lineage & Regional School

Lian Zhengyi, Male, Han, from Lushi, Henan, is a sixth-batch national representative bearer of Paper-cutting (Ⅶ-16). The tradition is documented in Lushi, Henan. Within the regional tradition and school record of Paper-cutting in Lushi, Henan: Influenced by the cultures of the Yangtze and Yellow River basins, Lushi papercutting has formed two different stylistic features: a bold, plain aspect and a fluent, gentle aspect. Lushi papercutting is a typical representative of Lushi's folk culture. The cultural information it contains has long been absorbed into the souls of the local people, influencing every aspect of their folk life as well as their values and aesthetic orientation. In this sense, Lushi papercutting is first-hand material for understanding the thoughts, feelings and living conditions of the local people, providing an important reference for the study of Lushi's history and folk culture.

02 · Mastery & Signature Works

The bearer record for Lian Zhengyi is anchored in the documented technical standards of Paper-cutting in Lushi, Henan. Within the documented technical tradition of Paper-cutting in Lushi, Henan: Lushi papercutting is popular throughout Lushi County in Henan Province and occupies a distinctive place in the folk papercutting and folk culture of Henan. Lushi County lies on the western frontier of Henan Province and is an important birthplace of Heluo culture. Representative repertoire, works and technical entries recorded for the project include: "Yang Chunzhi's birds, flowers and figures": Born in Lushi in 1926, Yang Chunzhi drew on everyday birds, flowers, fish and people, her forms exaggerated yet vivid and full of imagination. "The three subject types": Within her work: flower window cuttings are spare and simple, animal pieces boldly exaggerated, and figure scenes of work, daily life and play natural and lively. "Two coexisting manners": Villages preserve two manners — a bold, plain, heavy-lined one and a fluent, graceful, deftly composed one — matching Lushi's position between the Yellow River and Yangtze cultural spheres. "Household transmission in the villages": Without guilds, transmission runs mother to daughter and mother-in-law to daughter-in-law, with patterns copied between neighbours in the slack season and changing with each hand.

03 · Transmission & Safeguarding Status

In 2025, Lian Zhengyi was announced in the sixth batch of national representative bearers for Paper-cutting, with Lushi, Henan as the declared area. Within the documented safeguarding record of Paper-cutting in Lushi, Henan: The project was inscribed in the national inventory in 2008 (batch 2), with Lushi, Henan as its declared area, and Lushi County People's Cultural Center as its safeguarding unit. Since the project was inscribed in the national inventory, its declared area and safeguarding unit have carried out documentation, transmission and presentation within the national safeguarding framework. Together, the inventory record and the project archive form the public documentary basis for the bearer’s transmission practice.

04 · Associated Heritage Item Dossier

05 · Fellow National Bearers Lineage

National representative bearers recorded under the same item code, ordered from the first to the sixth batch. Batch order is not a teacher–student relationship.

06 · Archival Sources & Bibliography

1. Lianzhengyi (Lushi, Henan) · China ICH Official Project Archive
2. Lianzhengyi · China ICH Official Archive