Chen Qiuri, one of the two national representative inheritors of paper-cutting in Fujian, teaches her apprentice how to cut the paper. [Photo provided by the interviewee] |
As a place well-known for its time-honored paper-cutting culture, Sui’an Township in Zhangpu County, southeast China’s Fujian Province, has recently been listed as one of the “Hometowns of Chinese Folk Culture and Arts” by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The origin of Zhangpu paper-cutting can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). Initially, Zhangpu paper-cutting was only used as a base sample for embroidery works. With the growing prevalence of various folklore activities, and under the influence of the “window flower” culture of northern China, Zhangpu paper-cutting began to be adopted for use in marriages, worship ceremonies, and other activities. As a place well-known for its time-honored paper-cutting culture, Sui’an Township in Zhangpu County,…