Paper Cut Art has many different categories and styles. The basic categories for classifying paper cut art can be grouped as follows:
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1. Cutting Method
a. Scissor Cut - Paper can be cut with scissors to produce continuous patterns. Paper cut outs made this way are simpler than those made with the knife sculpting method.
b. Knife Sculpting - Using a sharp knife, paper cut artists can carve out intricate shapes out of the paper to render various subjects ranging from simple small cut outs to mural size cutouts with intricate designs and numerous subjects.
2. Color
a. Single Color Paper Cut - Monochrome paper cuts are usually made using very thin Rice Paper. The most common color used are red, blue, black or white. Red paper cuts are frequently used during festivals as decorative ornaments.
b. Multi-colored Paper Cut - There are two ways of making a colored rendering of a subject using paper cut outs. An artist can make multiple layers of paper cut outs. Each layer depicts a specific color of the objects in the subject. For example, a landscape subject can be done using 4 layers of paper. The grass and trees can be rendered in green, the background in white and blue and the shadows in black. These are then overlayed to form a composite picture. Another method is to make a single color paper cut out using white paper and then use paint or water color on the paper cut out.
3. Usage
 a. Window, Door, Gate or Wall or Furniture Paper Cuts -These paper cuts are hanged as decorative enhancements and also as traditional practice to bring in good luck, good fortune and happiness. The Window Paper Cuts were pervasively used by Farmers in the northern part of China using white leather paper to decorate their homes which usually have square symmetrical window panes. Subjects for window paper cut outs were usually flowers, plants, scenes from traditional tales and figurines of deities. The door or gate paper cut outs on the other hand are primarily used to bring in good fortune. They are referred to as "hanging money" for the practice is supposed to give good fortune. They are
hanged on doors or gates and are usually made of red paper with tassels. Flowers, the Phonenic and Dragons are common themes found in these wall/door hanged paper cuts. During major Chinese Festivals like the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival. Scarlet Red Paper Cut outs depicting Chinese symbols of happiness are decorated on furniture and household items like dressers, basins and even teapots. The Paper Cut Art depicting symbols for good luck and fortune are place all over the house to bid the old year goodbye and welcome the new year and to bring in good luck to the homes of the residents.
b. Decorative ornament for Gifts, Dowries or Offerings - Paper cut outs are used like modern day gift ribbons to enhance the look of a gift, a dowry or sacrificial offering. These cutouts are pasted or attached to the gift box or to the object itself. In Shandong Province for example, people there attach a paper cut to a gift called a "happy egg" on the occasion of a birth of a baby. In Fujian Province, birthday gifts are attached with Paper Cuts using the Tortoise as a subject. They believe the Tortoise is a symbol of long life.
c. Base Pattern for Embroidery - Paper cut designs have been adapted in other Chinese Arts like embroidery on cloth and even shoes. Hence paper cutouts have been used as a base pattern for making embroidered cloth and to put embroidery on shoe designs.
d. Base Pattern for Cloth Dyeing - Another art form that benefited from paper cut designs is cloth dyeing. The beautiful and symmetric designs of paper cuts were used as patterns for dyeing cloth.
4. Regional Origin
a. Ansai Paper Cutting - This originates from a place called Ansai in Shaanxi Province. They make paper cuttings for use as decoration during the Spring Festival, for weddings, Chinese traditional rituals and also as base patterns for cloth embroidery. Themes depicted in this region's paper cut are usually flowers, plants, flying birds, domestic animals, lions and tigers. These paper cuttings are supposed to symbolize happiness and prosperity.
Ansai Style Paper Cut
b. East Sha'anxi - Paper Cuttings coming from this area of China have the primitive and aboriginal touch. They are characterized by bold lines and solid broad lines. Common themes of East Sha'aanxi Paper Cuttings are flowers of the four seasons, flying birds, scenes from folk lore and animals in action.
East Shaanxi Style
c. Fushan - This place in Shaanxi Province is called the "home" of Paper Cutting. There are many folk artists in this area specializing in paper cuttings. They have a unique form of paper cutting which is made up of a series of interconnected or chained paper cuts. This is appropriately referred to as "bridge paper cutting". Fushan paper cuts designs are widely used as base patterns for embroidering pillows, handkerchiefs, blankets, hat and shoes.
Fushan Style
d. Binzhou - This is widely practiced in the Huiming area of Shandong Province. It depicts subject as coarse cut outs.
Binzhou Style
e. Wei County, Hebei - Famous for its paper cut outs used as window ornaments. This is a colored paper cut out which is painted using a wood block.
Wei County
f. Nanjing - This region specializes in paper cuts of flowers. They call it the "happy flower". Flowers of all sizes and shapes are rendered in scarlet red rice paper. These paper cut outs are frequently used to decorate the gifts given as dowry.
Nanjing Style
g. Pi County, Jiangsu - This county in Jiangsu province well known for making paper cuttings for gates and windows. Its themes range from country-side scenes, excerpts from tales and folklore and various local domesticated animals.
Pi County Style
h. Foshan - This is a place in Guangdong province. Their style of paper cutting flourished during the Qing and Ming Dynasties. They make use of a combination of techniques to cut the paper out using scissor cutting, knife sculpting, chiselling and then further enhanced by painting and drawing on the paper cut outs. They use a variety of colored paper including metallic colors like gold and copper. This combination of colors produce paper cuts that look very elegant and expensive.
Foshan Style
i. Beijing - The capital city of China also has its own style of paper cuttings marked by simplicity of design. This style conveys an image of austerity.
Beijing Style
j. Anhui - This province in the central part of China. Jieshou City in Anhui province has been named by the Chinese Ministry of Culture as the "Home of Paper Cutting Folk Arts of China".
Anhui Style |
