Paper-cutting art in danger of dying out
Print Edition
Like many other traditional Chinese folk arts, Songjiang paper cutting is faced with the threat of extinction. Those familiar with the art are mostly seniors.
A survey by students from Donghua University in Songjiang District in 2012 showed that more than 70 percent of those questioned barely knew anything about paper cutting.
Almost all of them are born after the 1990s.
On the other hand, more than 65 percent of the survey participants said they were interested in the art and would like to try it if they had the opportunity.
A local style of Chinese paper cutting (or jianzhi), Songjiang paper cutting was listed as one of the district’s “intangible cultural relics” in August 2013 in an effort by the government to protect and promote the traditional folk art.
Paper cutting is a traditional art form that can be traced back more than 1,000 years. Symmetrical cuts as well as intricate and complicated designs are usually made with scissors.
It takes long-term practice to learn how to make a cut out. Tian Baoqi, a folk artist of paper cutting in Songjiang, said he started to learn paper cutting in the 1960s and it took two steps, both of which required repeated practice.
The first step was drawing and the second was cutting. He said he used to go to the market every morning and sketched people such as the barbers and vendors.
Animals, plants, vegetables, stones and furniture were also objects for his practice.
When it came to the cutting, Tian said he started cutting tiny squares or circular shapes the size of a grain of rice before he finally could cut intricate designs.
Some of the masters of Songjiang paper cutting were listed as representative heirs of Songjiang’s intangible cultural heritage in August 2013.
There are still few ways for young people to learn paper cutting, though a paper-cutting event was held after the survey at Donghua University in Songjiang. Qian Bingrong, a master of the Songjiang paper-cutting art, was invited to show his techniques in front of college students.
In 2009, Chinese paper cutting was listed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
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