Lucky Motifs in Chinese Folk Art: Interpreting Paper-cut from Chinese Shaanxi

Authors

  • Xuxiao WANG Professor of Philosophy at School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/as.2013.1.2.125-143

Keywords:

Paper-cut, Shaanxi, lucky motifs, cultural heritage

Abstract

Paper-cut is not simply a form of traditional Chinese folk art. Lucky motifs developed in paper-cut certainly acquired profound cultural connotations. As paper-cut is a time-honoured skill across the nation, interpreting those motifs requires cultural receptiveness and anthropological sensitivity. The author of this article analyzes examples of paper-cut from Northern Shaanxi, China, to identify the cohesive motifs and explore the auspiciousness of the specific concepts of Fu, Lu, Shou, Xi. The paper-cut of Northern Shaanxi is an ideal representative of the craft as a whole because of the relative stability of this region in history, in terms of both art and culture. Furthermore, its straightforward style provides a clear demonstration of motifs regarding folk understanding of expectations for life.

 

 

 

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Xuxiao WANG, Professor of Philosophy at School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China

Professor of Philosophy at School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China

References

Cui, Bao 崔豹. 1956. Gujin Zhu 古今注 (Notes Old and New). Shanghai: Commercial Press.

Duan, Chengshi 段成式. 1981. Youyang Zazu 酉陽雜俎 (Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang). Beijing: Zhonghua shuju.

Li, Fang 李昉. 1959. Taiping Guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Records of the Taiping Reign). Beijing: People’s Publishing House.

Li, Bai 李白. 1961. Li Bai Shiquan 李白詩選 (Selected Poem of Li Bai). Beijing: People’s Literature Publishing House.

Liu, Yuxi 劉禹錫. 1979. Liu Mengde Wenji 劉夢得文集 (Collected Works of Liu Mengde). Sibu Congkan Zhengbian 四部叢刊正編. Vol. 5. Taibei: Commercial Press of Taiwan.

Lu, Zhaolin 盧照鄰. 1979. Youyou Ziji 幽憂子集 (Collected Works of YouYuzi). Sibu Congkan Zhengbian Collection 四部叢刊正編. Taibei: Commercial Press of Taiwan.

Wang, Zhongzhang 汪中長. 2009. Zhouzi liushisi gua jianjie 周易六十四卦淺解 (Plain Explanations on Zhouyi Hexagrams). Beijing: the Contemporary World Press.

Wu, Jun 吳均. 1986. Xu Qixieji 續齊諧記 (The Extension of Weird Stories in the Qi Period). Jingyin Wenyuange Siku Quanshu 景印文淵閣四庫全書. Vol. 1042. Taibei: Commercial Press of Taiwan.

Ying, Shao 應劭. 2010. Fengsu tongyi jiaozhu 風俗通義校注 (Revisal and Commentary of the Records on Customs), revised by Wang Liqi 王利器. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju.

Zhai, Hao 翟灝. 1958. Tongsu Bian 通俗編 (Compilation of folk sayings). Vol. 19. Beijing: Commercial Press.

Zhou, Dunyi 周敦頤. 2006. Yuangong Zhou Xiansheng Lianxi Ji 元公周先生濂溪集 (Collected Works of Zhou Lianxi). Vol. 6. Changsha: Yuelu Shushe.

Zhou, Xibao 周錫保. 1984. Zhongguo gudai fushi shi 中國古代服飾史 (History of Chinese Ancient Costume). Beijing: Zhongguo Xiju chuban she.

Zhu, Qianzhi 朱謙之. 2009. Xin Jiben Huantan Xinlun 新輯本桓譚新論 (New Edition of Huantan’s New Statement). Vol. 11. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju.

Zhu, Zuyi 朱祖義. 1986. Shangshu Jujie 尚書句解 (Collected Interpretation of Shangshu). Vol. 7. Taibei: Commercial Press of Taiwan.

Downloads

Published

29.11.2013

How to Cite

WANG, X. (2013). Lucky Motifs in Chinese Folk Art: Interpreting Paper-cut from Chinese Shaanxi. Asian Studies, 1(2), 125–143. https://doi.org/10.4312/as.2013.1.2.125-143