A heritage to hold dear

Paper cutting

After paper was invented in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), Chinese people sought ways to use it as a medium to exercise their creative vision. Paper-cutting is a prime example.

Thin-line paper-cutting from the county-level city of Yueqing, under Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, is known as an eminent style of the art form, because of its intricacy and exquisiteness. During the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), while celebrating Spring Festival, the locals paraded their dragon boat lanterns, decorated with paper-cuttings, to ward off disease and pray for blessings.

The Yueqing style uses engraving knives to allow for more intricate patterns. On a tiny piece of paper, several hundreds of cuts can be executed.