Declarer:Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, Hebei Province
Fengning County is hidden in the depths of the Yanshan Mountains in northern Hebei Province. The papercuts in Fengning originated in theQing Dynasty(1644-1911), mainly featuring auspicious patterns, flowers and birds, landscapes, human figures, and daily utensils.
Ⅲ. Zhongyang Papercuts
Declarer:Zhongyang County, Shanxi Province
Zhongyang County is located in the middle reaches of theYellow River. The papercuts in this area are still primitively simplistic and have a unique local flavor. The subject matter ranges from customs and religion to seasonal landscapes, life rituals, and legendary stories. The papercuts are primarily made by local village women.
Ⅳ. Manchu Papercuts in Yiwu Lushan
Declarer:Jinzhou City,Liaoning Province
Manchu Papercuts of Yiwu Lushan reflect the primitive worship of natural gods, ancestral gods and phallism, as well as the folk customs of theManchu ethnic minority. The art features simplicity, sententiousness, and primitivism.
Ⅴ.YangzhouPapercuts
Declarer:Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province
During theTang Dynasty(618-907), Yangzhou people had a custom of welcoming theSpring Festivalby making papercuts. On the day of Spring Beginning, people would cut paper into floral, spring butterfly, spring coin and spring handkerchief patterns. There are also other purposes for papercuts. The cut paper characters, horses and coins, are used to sacrifice ghosts and gods.