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Day 35: Learning about Chinese paper cuts

Track 35

One of China’s most popular folk arts is paper cut. Paper cut is used for decoration purpose. Because the paper cut usually is used to decorate doors and windows, it is sometimes referred to “chuāng huā” (窗花 ).

There are two kinds of paper cuts. One is made by mold and the other is folding paper in several ways and randomly cut it, and then opens it, such as paper snow flakers and the shape of animals with red paper. They are beautiful and elegant arts.

People find hope and comfort in expressing wishes with paper cuts. For example: for a wedding ceremony. People usually hang up a big double ‘xǐ’ (happiness) on the windows. In the New Year’s Festival, people hang upside down character “Fu” in front of the doors and windows, because pronunciation of the word “arrive” and “upside down” is same in Chinese. “Fu” means that good fortune and happiness will arrive to our family during the New Year.

e.g.

窗花 (chuāng huā)

[Window flower]

福到了(fú dào le.)

[Happiness has arrived.]

过年好. (guò nián hǎo)

[Happy New Year.]

 

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Posted by admin on February 28th, 2007 filed in Podcasts