The Aesthetic Story of Classical Chinese Paper-cutting

Chinese paper cutting is one of the oldest folk arts in China. Some people believe that the precursor of paper cutting can be traced back to the customs of Han and Tang Dynasty women using gold and silver foil cut into square shapes and pasted on their temples as decorations. Paper cuttings pasted on windows are also known as window flowers.

Early paper cuttings were mostly used in ceremonies such as funerals and sacrifices, often associated with Taoist spiritual practices. For example, there is a clear record in Du Fu's "Peng Ya Xing" that says, "Warm water washes my feet, paper cutting fascinates my soul." Even today, in some regions, during festival celebrations, there are still customs of cutting paper into the shapes of ghosts and gods and pasting them on the cowshed or door lintel as a form of witchcraft. In China southwestern mountainous areas, there are specialized paper cutting workshops in the market, mass-producing talismans for sale. Additionally, paper cuttings decorating household stoves and buildings are changed annually.