Year of the Snake

Emerald Snake

To celebrate this new year I have collect examples of Chinese paper cutting (Jianzhi) a practice developed early on since paper was invented by the Chinese.  The oldest surviving paper cut out is a symmetrical circle from the 6th century found in Xinjiang, China.  The basics of this art form is similar to the way in which I make paper snow flakes.  Using a single sheet of paper and folding it over to make cuts, each design is often created using an even number of cuts and results in a symmetrical overall design.

Chinese Zodiac - Year of the Snake

Paper cuts are used primarily for decorating, anything from walls to mirrors to gifts (they are also given as gift).  Cut outs are sometimes referred to as 'chuang hua', meaning window flower, as they are used to door and window decorations. 

Pandas are a MIXED favorite.

Here is the process (according to Wiki):
There are two methods of manufacture: one use scissors, the other use knives. In the scissor method, several pieces of paper — up to eight — are fastened together. The motif is then cut with sharp, pointed scissors.  Knife cuttings are fashioned by putting several layers of paper on a relatively soft foundation consisting of a mixture of tallow and ashes. Following a pattern, the artist cuts the motif into the paper with a sharp knife which is usually held vertically. Skilled crafters can even cut out different drawings freely without stopping.




Photo Credit: funalliance.com
Informational Credit: Wiki - Chinese Paper Cutting