In 2006, the art of paper-cutting, as an outstanding representative of China's traditional folk handicrafts, was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists with the approval of the State Council due to its unique visual language and rich cultural connotations.
This folk art with a long history not only carries the overall memory and aesthetic ideals of the Chinese nation, but also, with its own complete technical system, has become a living sample for studying the inheritance process and development of folk art.
Among learners who are new to this art, systematically mastering the standardized production process is not only the cornerstone of the entry-level process, but also the key path to understanding the value of its intangible cultural heritage.
1. Tracing the origins of intangible cultural heritage skills : the craftsman’s psychological approach from the initial draft composition
The first and most important step in paper-cutting creation is the "draft". This process is not simply tracing the appearance, but a process in which the paper-cutting craftsman transforms the inner image into a visible image. It is a condensation and refinement of the spiritual level.
From the perspective of intangible cultural heritage protection, this stage is a direct reflection of the folk modeling system .
The inheritor needs to arrange the picture after the idea has matured. Not only must he complete the depiction of the specific objects, but he must also consider the black and white effect created by the relationship between yin and yang in advance, and use white powder to modify it if necessary, so as to pursue perfection.
For beginners, follow the ancient admonition that "the more detailed the manuscript, the easier it will be to carve it." To draw fine ink manuscripts, especially when facing a figure with completely equal shapes on both sides, the method of dividing it into two halves to draw the manuscript is the respect and inheritance of the traditional skill of "painting", thus ensuring that subsequent processes can follow rules.
2. The inheritance of knife skills : the core essence of the art of cutting and carving
When using a knife as a pen, the drawings and paper should be stacked and fixed on the wax plate. The order of cutting the knife is secretly consistent with the rules. The facial features of the characters are carved first to determine the charm, and the details of the flowers and birds are carved first to show the agility. The overall rule is from the inside to the outside, from small to large, from thin to thick.
This order is consistent with the meaning of calligraphy. It emphasizes a logic of knife execution. This logic is "from left to right, from top to bottom." It shows the rational order that lies in the essence of the craftsman's skills.
The technical mantra emphasizes "try to avoid reusing knives." Key parts must be cut off, and tearing by hand is taboo, in order to avoid rough edges from damaging the integrity of the picture.
This precise control of tools and materials is the prerequisite for ensuring the artistic aesthetic value of the work.
3. Peeling off and pasting : folk practice of the concept of document protection
In order to deal with the different characteristics of paper, such as the fact that single rice paper is thin and easy to stick to each other, the inheritors devised a meticulous method of first gently kneading the cardboard to loosen it, and then using mouth blowing to help lift it up, thus minimizing physical damage to the finished product.
In the subsequent pasting steps, whether it is spot-gluing locally or flat-topping the whole, its purpose is all towards "long-term preservation" in the protection of intangible cultural heritage.
Put the paper-cut flat on the paper, lightly apply the paste with a brush, and then carefully buckle and flatten it. This rigorous process allows the exquisite paper-cut works to survive the erosion of time and become a precious relic in the folk cultural space that can be observed and studied by future generations.
4. Repair and Replication : Closed Loop of Skills in the Inheritance System
In the face of errors in cutting or dyeing defects, the older generation of craftsmen will not discard them easily. Instead, they will follow the principle of "knowing what they are doing" and perform local carving and repair operations. This reflects the craftsmanship spirit of striving for excellence in traditional skills.
1. There is a traditional copying method called "Xunyang". 2. There is also a traditional copying method called "sampling". 3. Before modern printing technology became popular, 4. these traditional reproduction methods, namely "smoke sample" and "dry sample", 5. became the key means to ensure that the "school system" could continue. 6. At the same time, they are also an important way to expand the scope of cultural communication.
By soaking objects in water, roasting them with light, or using the photosensitive principle of red blood salt to copy pictures, not only has the value of historical documents been widely disseminated, but it has also provided a living academic standard sample for our current research on the evolution and transmission paths of traditional patterns.
Looking at the six steps of paper-cutting production, from drafting to copying, each individual link embodies the crystallization of folk wisdom, forming a complete and rigorous production system with social and cultural significance.
In this contemporary context, it is necessary to re-examine and rigorously inherit the standard production methods of this set of intangible cultural heritage. This is not only to protect the ancient skills, but also to explore and pursue its contemporary activation value and meaning, and to activate the vitality contained in it. It is an inevitable way.
For beginners, only by following this path can they truly enter the advanced realm of paper-cutting art and become a competent inheritor of this excellent national cultural gene.
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