Of all folk art works, paper-cut is the most participated. Often characterized by geographical regions, paper-cut is rich with historical and cultural heritage. Even though it has only been two thousand years since the invention of paper, the cultural implication and art forms that paper-cut represents goes back all the way to primitive society 6000-7000 years ago. The cultural value it carries far exceeds the value of art itself; it enriches the entire original Chinese art system, art formation and color structure, having deep impact on philosophy, aesthetics, history, ethnology, sociology and anthropology.
As a cultural carrier of the original Chinese philosophy, paper-cut is embodied in all aspects of folk custom and culture. They are in the forms of window decoration; border flower for brick bed; cave-vault flower; totem door god; daily life appliance such as vat and jar flower, porcelain decorations; dress and adornment like embroidery, hat decoration, shoe flower, pillow case and undergarment decorative patterns; and for wedding ceremony; memorial service; birthday celebration, etc. There are also pillow case with paper-cut patterns featuring tiger, doll or fish,
symbolic of birth from totem mother's body; and "Yin-yang fish;" "Fish biting lotus;" "Lotus bearing seeds;" for marriage and multiplication; "The tree of life" symbolizing eternity of spirit and continuation of life at funeral and burial ceremonies; holiday paper-cut "A buckled bowl;" "Rat bit open the sky;" indicating that when heaven and earth connect, all things come back to life, propagation of children and harvesting crops. In the first lunar month, to welcome the beginning of spring ploughing, paper- cut "Spring cow" is pasted on the door for safeguard; at Pure Brightness festival, paper-cut "Futuo' is placed on the ancestor's tomb (Manchuria); and in the fifth Lunar month, on the Dragon Boat festival, people use "Love tiger" paper-cut as a talisman to drive away vicious spirit and disease. In folk customs, there are "Baby with coiled hair" and a variety of its transformed figures as patron saint and propagation fairy; Miao ethnic group's legendary figures paper-cut on the "pounding cows" altar for the ancestors; and paper-cut featuring exorcist figures and festivities, etc.
