Paper cut (Pujiang paper cut)

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

Applicant: Pujiang County, Zhejiang Province

Project No.: 315

Project No.: Ⅶ - 16

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Zhejiang Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Pujiang County, Zhejiang Province

Protected by: Pujiang Cultural Center

Introduction to paper cutting (Pujiang paper cutting)

Applicant: Pujiang County, Zhejiang Province

Pujiang is one of the earliest popular paper-cut areas in Zhejiang and even in China. After entering the Qing Dynasty, local opera developed unprecedentedly in Pujiang, forming a unique Pujiang Luantan. Affected by it, Pujiang opera character paper-cut with strong local color appeared. After long-term development, it has formed a unique style of paper-cut Pujiang paper-cut. Since the Republic of China, Pujiang paper-cut industry has produced more than a dozen representatives, has been inherited, along with the art so far. Pujiang paper-cut, with elegant sentiment and beautiful patterns, is popular in the south of the Yangtze River, and has gradually become an important style school and typical representative of Southern paper-cut.

Pujiang paper-cut is unique in shape and various in techniques. It combines Yin cutting with Yang carving. It is not only folded but also lined with color. Its artistic style can be summarized in 20 words: "fresh and beautiful, delicate and soft, rich in connotation, vivid and unique in composition". Pujiang traditional paper-cut has a wide range of themes, among which opera characters are the most prominent. Most of the works are based on Wu Opera, Yue Opera and other local operas and historical stories.

Pujiang paper-cut has a long history, unique style and distinctive local color. It is not only a specimen of Chinese paper-cut and Chinese opera research, but also a living fossil of the development and evolution of Chinese traditional folk culture. In Pujiang, there are many talented people in the field of paper-cut, and their works are rich in heritage, attracting the attention of the world. In 1993, the Ministry of Culture named Pujiang County as "the hometown of Chinese folk (paper cutting) art".

With the changes of the times, Pujiang paper-cut is dying out. At present, there are few local artists who can make paper-cut, and the inheritance of skills is in crisis. Strengthening the protection of Pujiang paper-cut has become an urgent task.