Yangzhou Paper Trimmings Masterpieces, China Paper Cut Museum

Chinese paper cutting is an important part of Chinese folk culture. There are three large schools in the Chinese paper sirloin, namely: reproduction of folk paper in Shandong, pruning of Anhui folk paper and trimming folk paper in Yangzhou. Yangzhou is one of the earliest areas of Chinese paper cutting. In the Tang and Song dynasties, the custom of «cutting paper and spring» existed. Yangzhou in the Qing Dynasty, thanks to the development of the Jianghuai solonchak industry, brought prosperity to the city. Therefore, in the city of Yangzhou quite a lot of people’s artists. It is rumored that in the times of Jia and Tao, the famous artist Bao Zheng was well known for his skill. Under the cutting of luggage, flowers, birds, fish and butterflies — all this is fascinating, and they are fascinating because of the reputation of «God’s scissors».

Paper Cutting in Yangzhou
Chinese paper scraps are divided into two categories based on artistic styles, namely in the north and south. The well-known Chinese scientist Mr. Guo Moruo (1892-1978 AD) once wrote a poem, welcoming the fairy-tale art carved from paper, which means: «I once saw how paper is cut from North China and was is struck by their innocent and genuine beauty; Now I see paper cutouts from South China and are fascinated by their exquisite and graceful charm; This is an ingenious national craftsmanship created simply by a pair of scissors; May his charm last forever. » Due to its thin, lively and elegant beauty, the paper cutting in Yangzhou turned into masterpieces of paper cutting art in South China.

history
During the reign of Emperor Jiaqing and the Emperor Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), a man from letters named Bao Yun, born in Yangzhou, China’s Jiangnan Province, created a distinctive art form, later known as the «carved paper of the Bao Jun», in which various subjects are represented, including landscapes, figures, birds, flowers, insects, fish, etc., based on his integration of paper cutting and painting. Unfortunately, the technique of «carved paper» Bao was lost, since since then, none of such artists as he, and works of art, such as those he had, appeared.

Bao Jun’s «Cutting Painting», which is a distinctive category that became an important stage in the development of the Yangtze Fine Arts of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), is considered a masterpiece of a literary newspaper that he not only inherited the literary characters of the previous paper clippings of Bao Zhuangxing, but also integrated many forms of art, including poetry, calligraphy, painting, printing, cutting and gluing.

In total, the Museum of Plants and Insects in Bao-jun at the Bao-Jung meeting has 12 items of «ruby paper», namely: «Crabs, butterflies», «Orc flowers» and chrysanthemums, hydrangea flowers and kingfisher, «Return swallow in the spring «,» Lilies «, Black butterflies, lilies and orchids, peach blossoms, swallows and willows, hydrangea flowers, beans. In these styles, these pieces are distinguished by original compositions, rich layers and an illustration of life, thanks to Bao Jun’s expert skills in cutting and collaging.

It is impossible to say at first glance whether these are paintings, calligraphy or paper scraps, since the artist combined paper cutting, painting, calligraphy and printing.

The audience learned after careful observation that these works must have been made by the creator, first carving out the shapes of flowers, birds, plants, insects, characters and seals from sheets of paper, then inserting them onto rice paper and finally rendering and adding additional brushes , similar to the strokes of the texture in Chinese painting.

Bao Jun, with a solid foundation in painting and calligraphy, as well as his skill in cutting paper, Bao Jun was able to combine painting and cutting paper in the shortest possible time, creating a series of captivating «cuttings» of landscapes, birds and flowers, plants and insects, figures the brightest people with the theme of birds and flowers, as well as plants and insects.

«Manual work» requires skilled skills of collage and gluing. These skills of Bao Jun were so ingenious that some museum staff who did not believe that parts of the album «Plants and insects» were made of paper even broke the rules of the museum to touch these cultural relics and were completely convinced and amazed when they saw slightly twisted corners of the cut paper.

With scissors as the main tool and brush as a complement, Bao Jun created works of art that still capture a century later viewers today, based on his incomparable cutting skills and ingenious manner.

His works, conveying both characters and interests of writers, allow viewers not only to study his ingenious artistic skills, but also to look at the artist’s inner world.

With pieces bearing his unique cultural connotations, Bao Jun created a direct link between objective landscapes and their artistic images, the latter of which became the bearer of his inner emotions.

According to his works, Bao Jun usually left the signature «Bao Jun from Baishi (White Sand)» or the seal «Baisha Ren (a man from White Sand)». According to the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Ancient and Modern Chinese Geographical Names, Baisha was a prefecture known for white sand, located in Yizheng County, eastern China province of Jiangsu. And since the Baixa Prefecture was under the jurisdiction of Yangzhou during the Qing dynasty, Bao Jun was called Yangzhou Chen Wenshu’s native in his «New Records of Artist Circles,» in fact a native of Yicheng County, Yangzhou, to be specific.

In the Museum of Tianjin, which was established in 1834, in the 14th year of the reign of the Emperor Daoguang, while in 1837, namely the 17th year, two parts (series) of works by Bao Yun were presented.

Arahants by Bao Baisha, owned by a collector based on Xuzhou Guo Yunquan, depicts the arahants illustrated in a vital way with exquisite, flowing lines. Scissors work in pictures, calligraphy and printing, although they can be as subtle as nothing, to convey deep meanings.

Exhibits
Orioles and desert roses, paper cuttings Zhao Hongmei
This part illustrates the idyllic scene of spring so beautiful that it seems to exist only in dreams. Desert roses begin to bloom in a warm spring breeze. The most spectacular among these flowers are two charming red flowers, with petals waving in a gentle wind. Green leaves, seemingly insignificant, are important elements that serve as a foil for exquisite, elegant beauty of flowers. Oriolia reluctantly leave the branch, sing beautiful songs.

Bonsai Series by Xiong Chongrong
Harmonious rhythm, cutting out paper Zhang Zhenmei
Admiration to watch, paper cutting Li Haixia

China Paper Cutting Museum, Yangzhou, China

Chinese Paper Cutting Museum (Chinese: 中国 剪纸 博物馆) is located in the back garden of Xiaoyuan Wang, the historic Yangzhou District. The museum presents a variety of styles for paper cutting from all over the country and regularly conducts national work on pruning paper «The Shanghua Prize» and related activities for cultural exchange. The museum has collected more than 400 pieces of masterpieces for cutting paper from different genres throughout the country. The original site of the Chinese paper-cutting museum is located in Mazhan Lane, Yangzhou City, and now he moved to the building of arts and crafts.