Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Paper - cutting: The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs, a Cultural Galaxy on Paper

In the current era swept by the digital wave, there is an art form that has always used red paper as a writing tablet and scissors as a pen, flowing quietly through the years —— this is Chinese intangible cultural heritage paper - cutting. When the eyes fall on this set of twelve Chinese zodiac signs paper - cuttings in front of us, it is as if opening a door to the world of traditional aesthetics. In every cut mark, there are endless cultural stories hidden, and the twelve Chinese zodiac signs have injected a unique soul into this ancient art.

The history of paper - cutting can be traced back to the Han and Wei dynasties. Initially, it was a carrier for praying for blessings and sacrifices. The patterns on the red paper carry people's expectations for life. When the twelve Chinese zodiac signs, an important symbol of Chinese traditional culture, meet paper - cutting, a wonderful spark is ignited.

Look at the paper - cutting of the rat. The agile little rat is surrounded by blooming flowers. Although the rat is small in size, it is endowed with the meaning of having many children and much good fortune due to its strong reproductive ability. The accompanying flowers represent the expectation for a prosperous and lively life. In the paper - cutting of the ox, the sturdy ox lies among green vines. The ox symbolizes hard work and cultivation. The entwined green vines hide the vision of a bountiful harvest after hard work, echoing the simple philosophy of "no pains, no gains". The paper - cutting of the tiger is imposing. As the king of beasts, the tiger is a symbol of protection and exorcising evil spirits. The craftsman carves the tiger's majesty with exaggerated lines, making this touch of red a "guardian" for the safety of the home.

In the paper - cutting of the rabbit, the little white rabbit is accompanied by flowers and butterflies. The rabbit often represents agility and purity in folk stories. Such a shape conveys the yearning for a pure and beautiful life. The paper - cutting of the dragon is magnificent. The dragon's body winds, and its scales are delicate. As the totem of the Chinese nation, it carries the hope for prosperity and progress. Every cut mark of the dragon pattern is a silent tribute to the national spirit. In the paper - cutting of the snake, the agile snake coils among flowers and plants. Although the snake is often misunderstood, it is regarded as a symbol of rebirth and transformation because of "shedding its skin". The embellishment of flowers and plants adds vitality to this transformation.

In the paper - cutting of the horse, the steed holds its head high with exquisite patterns. The horse is a symbol of striving and freedom. The horse in the paper - cutting seems to carry people's expectations for a smooth career and a free - spirited life to rush into the distance. In the paper - cutting of the goat, two goats lean against each other with lush branches and leaves. The "goat" is a homophone for "auspicious" in Chinese, implying good luck. The two goats together also carry the beautiful wish for a harmonious family and many descendants. In the paper - cutting of the monkey, the clever monkey holds a peach, lively and playful. The monkey has a homophonic relationship with "marquis" in Chinese, implying a prosperous official career. The peach adds the blessing of good health and long life. All these expectations for official career and life are integrated into this small paper - cutting.

In the paper - cutting of the rooster, the rooster crows with clusters of flowers around it. The rooster crows to disperse the darkness and bring light. It also symbolizes diligence and trustworthiness. The surrounding flowers make a new day full of hope. In the paper - cutting of the dog, the little dog runs lively with small flowers by its side. The dog is a symbol of loyalty and protection. Such a shape conveys the vision of a safe family and harmonious neighbors. In the paper - cutting of the pig, the chubby little pig is surrounded by flowers. The pig symbolizes abundance and good fortune. Its round shape and the accompanying flowers fully demonstrate the beautiful wish of "a prosperous home with ample wealth".

For each zodiac sign shape, the creator uses scissors as a medium to weave the animal form and auspicious meanings together. This is not just a reproduction of shapes, but also integrates the Chinese people's romance of "expressing emotions through objects and conveying aspirations via things" into the thin red paper.

As an intangible cultural heritage, the inheritance path of paper - cutting is full of warmth. From the bold and unconstrained folk paper - cuttings in the north to the delicate and exquisite artistic styles in the south, different regions have nurtured diverse expressions. In northern paper - cuttings, such as those in northern Shaanxi, large color blocks and thick lines are often used to depict the zodiac signs, full of strong local flavor. The tiger cut out seems to carry the boldness of the Loess Plateau and can ward off evil spirits and protect the home. In southern paper - cuttings, like Foshan paper - cuttings in Guangdong, the craftsmanship is fine, and the zodiac sign shapes pay attention to details. The scales of the dragon and the feathers of the phoenix (although the phoenix is not in the zodiac signs, paper - cutting art often integrates with other auspicious elements ) can be carved lifelike, fully demonstrating the delicacy of Lingnan culture.

In the hands of craftsmen, the scissors move like a pen. As the paper scraps fly, a unique artistic life is born. Now, paper - cutting is also embracing the younger generation: collaborating with fashion, making traditional patterns appear on clothing. When zodiac paper - cutting patterns are printed on sweaters and bags, the ancient art instantly becomes trendy. Entering the campus classrooms, children use their immature hands to cut out their imaginations of the zodiac signs. The rats they cut may be crooked, but they carry childlike creativity and inject new vitality into paper - cutting. The ancient technique is continuing to write new vitality in a new posture, making the twelve Chinese zodiac signs paper - cuttings not only exist in folk scenes but also enter the lives of young people.

Facing this set of twelve Chinese zodiac signs paper - cuttings, besides admiring the craftsmanship, we should also see the cultural roots behind them. Every touch of red echoes cultural symbols such as "festivals" and "reunion". During the Spring Festival, pasting zodiac paper - cuttings brings a strong festive atmosphere. Each zodiac sign shape continues the Chinese people's philosophical thinking about the cycle of life and the change of seasons. The cycle of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs represents the flow of time and the cycle of life. Paper - cutting freezes this philosophical thinking in the form of art.

In today's fast - paced world, paper - cutting is an art that makes people slow down. When craftsmen cut paper, they need to concentrate, and every cut is crucial for success or failure. This concentration is also transmitted to the viewers: slow down and feel the warmth in tradition. It reminds us that these traditions polished by time are never out - of - date. They are the code of the national spirit. In zodiac paper - cuttings, there are love for life, reverence for nature, and hope for the future, waiting to be understood and inherited by more people.

When we paste paper - cuttings on the window lattice or treasure them in an album, we are actually guarding a cultural gene. This art on the fingertips has spanned thousands of years and can still use red paper as a medium to convey the Chinese people's love for life and yearning for beauty. May more people approach intangible cultural heritage paper - cutting, touch the warmth created by the collision of scissors and red paper, and let the ancient inheritance shine brightly in the contemporary era.