China Folk Art

China invented paper, and paper arts have been part of the culture for thousands of years. Chinese papercutting is a unique art form, also called window flowers or cutting pictures. They are shaped with scissors or a knife to ornament walls, windows, doors, columns, mirrors, lamps and lanterns in homes, and are also used on presents or are given as gifts themselves. Papercuttings have special significance at festivals and on holidays. At the New Year's Festival for example, entrances are decorated with papercuttings which are supposed to bring good luck. Papercuttings used to be used as patterns, especially for embroidery and lacquer work.

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