Paper cut (Xiuyan Manchu paper cut)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: paper cut (Xiuyan Manchu paper cut)

Applicant: Xiuyan Manchu Autonomous County, Liaoning Province

Project No.: 315

Project No.: Ⅶ - 16

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Liaoning Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Xiuyan Manchu Autonomous County, Liaoning Province

Protection unit: Xiuyan Manchu Autonomous County Cultural Center

Introduction to Xiuyan Manchu paper cutting

Applicant: Xiuyan Manchu Autonomous County, Liaoning Province

Xiuyan Manchu paper cutting, popular in Xiuyan Manchu Autonomous County of Liaoning Province, has a history of more than 300 years since Manchu entered Xiuyan in the early 17th century. Manchu people are popular in hanging flags to worship their ancestors, which promotes the development of paper-cut and further evolves into various patterns such as window pattern, shed pattern and lantern pattern, which are widely used in Manchu folk custom activities such as marriage and funeral.

Xiuyan Manchu paper-cut is closely combined with the local social customs. In red events, red paper is used to cut dragon and Phoenix, and the word "zhe" is used to celebrate; in white events, white paper is used to cut round flowers and paper banners to mourn; in New Year's day, flag window flowers or gourds are used to set off the festive atmosphere. Xiuyan Manchu paper-cut is thick and rough, simple and refined, exaggerated and peculiar, emitting a strong local flavor, while maintaining the ancient cultural tradition and national characteristics of Manchu. Xiuyan peasant women Liu Jiying and Zhao Xiuzhi are all excellent paper-cut artists. Their traditional style works, such as "thousand butterflies", "lion playing with Hydrangea" and "tiger playing", can be regarded as the representative works of Xiuyan Manchu paper-cut.

Xiuyan Manchu paper-cut in the tortuous evolution of the formation of the characteristics of the integration of Manchu and Han, showing distinctive regional characteristics, has a high value of folk art research. At present, due to the decline of the older generation of artists and the lack of interest of the younger generation in learning and inheriting, Xiuyan Manchu paper-cut is declining and facing the risk of losing its heritage, which needs further protection.