Xu Zunying: Carry forward and pass down Chaoyang Paper Cutting

Chaoyang Paper Cutting entitled “Belt and Road Initiative”. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Recently, a piece of Chaoyang Paper Cutting entitled “Belt and Road Initiative” attracted wide attention. This cutting mainly consists of Zheng He’s expedition to the West, trade camel caravan, Dunhuang Apsaras and railway. It is rendered in red color and surrounded by traditional Chinese patterns implying health, auspiciousness and prosperity, such as flowers and coins.

Many traditional paper cuttings harbor people’s longing and pursuit for a better life, and this work conveys the theme of cooperation, mutual benefits and prosperity through the content of the Belt and Road Initiative, said the maker Xu Zunying.

Xu Zunying makes paper cutting work.

As one in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage, the millennia-old Chaoyang Paper Cutting has been inherited by generations of folk artisans, and impresses people with its unique style and charm. Xu Zunying, successor of Chaoyang Paper Cutting, is a master artisan devoted to this art form for decades. Her works are regarded as authentic Chaoyang Paper Cuttings.

Xu was born in Chaoyang District, east Guangdong’s Shantou which is a major region for Chaoyang Paper Cutting. She has been immersed in a colorful world of paper cuttings since childhood. Early at the age of 12, she tried to create her own paper cuttings with scissors the first time. Since then, she has been making paper cuttings without interruption.

Xu Zunying works in her studio.

Each year before the Lunar New Year, Xu was busy both preparing for New Year paper cutting performances and finishing the commissions on schedule. This was her busiest time in a year. Sometimes she has just sat for hours cutting paper and worked until 3:00 am everyday.

Xu Zunying went through ups and downs over the last three decades, but nothing could stop her making paper cuttings. She had to take care of babies and made a living at daytime while in the evening, she indulged herself in the realm of art with her scissors.

She has kept sharpening her scissors since the start of her career. Each pair of scissors was used to the greatest extent of its life. By far she still preserves seven of her worn scissors. Xu has contributed to countless paper cuttings, including more than 10,000 ones as décor for offerings.

A paper cutting work by Xu Zunying.[Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Many of her works were collected by multiple organizations, such as Guangdong Museum of Art, National Cultural Heritage Protection Center, and Embassy of The People's Republic of China in The Republic of Belarus.

On behalf of Shantou City, Xu visited La Réunion for culture exchanges as a member of the Guangdong Provincial Art Delegation four years ago. It was the first time that Chaoyang Paper Cutting made its overseas presence. Afterwards, she went to Ukraine, the Republic of Belarus, Australia, Japan, China’s Hong Kong, and other countries and regions to show Chaoyang Paper Cutting.

Xu Zunying feels very happy that many schools in Chaoyang offer paper cutting courses now, and the number of children who study paper cutting is increasing. She not only teaches paper cutting skills in her own studio, but also gives regular classes in certain schools, with the hope of Chaoyang Paper Cutting skills being passed down generation after generation.

A paper cutting work by Xu Zunying. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

About Chaoyang Paper Cutting

Chaoyang Paper Cutting was introduced by migrants travelling from central China towards the south during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), and developed under the influence from local customs.

Now, the rustic and exuberant Yingge Dance, the melodic Ditao Music, and the exquisite paper-cutting are billed as three treasures of Chaoyang folk arts. Meanwhile, it was selected in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006, and in the UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2009.

A paper cutting work by Xu Zunying.[Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Chinese paper-cuts are considered to be an expression of good wishes and hopes. Paper-cuts conveyed the wishes for wealth, health and longevity and so a better quality of life. With animals, flowers, figures, landscape as its major themes, the paper-cuts are more often seen during traditional Chinese festival, particular in the Spring Festival and the Lantern Festival, as well as in Chinese weddings.