Paper-cutting · Chinese Craft Stories

01 · Historical Records

Lingbao lies at the junction of the three provinces of Yu (Henan), Qin (Shaanxi) and Jin (Shanxi); known in ancient times as Taolin and Hongnong, with the Hangu Pass within its borders. Travelling merchants and migrants brought a variety of folk patterns, so window flowers, ceiling flowers, lantern flowers and other styles coexist there. Local papercutting is mostly the spare-time creation of rural women, with subjects centred on flowers, birds, grass, insects and human figures. Distinct categories correspond to decorating the bridal chamber at weddings, adorning coloured lanterns at the Lantern Festival, temple-fair sacrifices and funeral paper effigies; among these, the coloured-lantern papercuts are especially distinctive. Lingbao papercutting is divided into single-colour and dyed types, made chiefly by cutting, though carving is also used. The representative artist Wang Pengcao, born in February 1942, began learning to cut window flowers at seven, then went on to ceiling flowers and folded-symmetry flowers, and later composed works based on idioms and stories.

02 · Core Techniques & Process

Lingbao City in Henan Province lies at the confluence of the three provinces of Yu (Henan), Qin (Shaanxi) and Jin (Shanxi). Its long history and profound cultural heritage provide uniquely favourable conditions for the gestation and development of the region's folk papercutting art. Lingbao papercutting is divided into single-colour and dyed types, made chiefly by cutting, with carving also used. Over its long development, Lingbao papercutting has naturally formed artistic characteristics that are bold, plain, forthright and vigorous. Window flowers are the principal form of Lingbao papercutting; their subjects are mainly flowers, birds, grass, insects and human figures, and their style is plain, simple, handsome and dignified. Ceiling flowers, corner flowers, wall-frieze flowers, kang-screen flowers, double-happiness characters, lantern flowers, pot flowers and basin flowers are also common forms of Lingbao papercutting. These works are often closely tied to folk marriage customs; most are used to decorate the bridal chamber, conveying blessings for a happy marriage and for many children and much good fortune. The coloured-lantern papercuts used on "walking-horse" lanterns are especially typical: the top and bottom and the main body of the lantern are all decorated with finely carved papercut designs, and the central "fire umbrella" is further pasted with "zouma renzi" (running horse and rider) papercuts; as the lantern turns, the shadows move, creating a distinctive beauty. In addition, Lingbao papercutting includes paper-effigy papercuts associated with temple-fair sacrifices and funeral culture, as well as papercuts closely connected with folk customs and shamanic activities. The former take architectural patterns, flowers and birds, and historical stories promoting the Confucian ideas of rite, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness as their main subjects; the latter often embody prayers to uphold the right and drive out evil. Major works include "Sun-Sweeping Maiden" (Saoqing Niang), "Golden Shears Subduing the Five Venoms" and "Golden Ox".

Lantern cuttings for the revolving lamp

The most typical lantern cutting: top, body and the inner fire-canopy all carry finely carved patterns and tiny running figures so that the shadows move as the lamp turns.

Sweeping-Away Lady, Golden Scissors Quelling the Five Poisons, Golden Ox

Works tied to folk custom and magic, carrying the wish to support the upright and expel evil, used at temple fairs and in apotropaic rites.

Funerary paper cuttings and Confucian themes

Cuttings for temple and funeral paperwork, themed on architectural motifs, flowers and birds, and stories upholding ritual, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness.

Bridal-room decoration and wedding custom

Ceiling, corner, wall, kang-screen and double-happiness flowers, together with lantern, pot and basin flowers, decorate the bridal room with wishes for a happy marriage and many sons.

Wang Pengcao's learning path

Taught by her mother and grandmother, Wang Pengcao began at seven with small window flowers and double-happiness characters before moving on to ceiling flowers and story-based designs.

03 · Regional Records & Related Items

In Lingbao, at every Lantern Festival, people use papercuts to decorate coloured lanterns; such papercuts are called "coloured-lantern papercuts". Lingbao papercutting is mostly the spare-time creation of rural women and an indispensable artistic means by which the local people lodge their thoughts, express their feelings and beautify their lives.

04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding

The papercuts contain rich information about local customs and folk art and are of high research value. Wang Pengcao (as recorded in the official file of the associated inheritor), also written Wang Pengcao: Female, Han ethnicity, born in February 1942, native of Lingbao City, Henan Province. She loved papercutting from childhood and was guided by her mother and maternal grandmother; she began learning to cut paper flowers at seven. Starting with small window flowers, small borders and double-happiness characters, she went on to learn ceiling flowers and folded-symmetry flowers; she then sought subjects, stories and idioms in daily life and created according to their meaning, gradually developing a papercutting art with novel conceptions, profound implications and a distinctive style. Her work draws its material from folk life; she is skilled at using traditional techniques to depict new things and at investing them with her own feelings. Her pieces have rich content, lively forms, full compositions and natural cutting, and are full of artistic flavour. She was a representative inheritor of Papercutting (Lingbao Papercutting), an intangible cultural heritage project of the fourth national-level batch.

05 · Associated Representative Bearers

Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:

06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography

Sources

China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)

Read the official ihchina.cn record ↗