本土文化之Paper Cutting（剪纸）
ONE
英文介绍
Paper cutting is one of the most popular Chinese traditions.It is popular because it is cheap and easy to make.Women in the countryside often make paper cutting works in their free time when farming is not busy.The history of paper cutting can go back to the 6th century(世纪).From the 7th to the 13th century, paper cutting became popular during Chinese festivals.The art spread(传播) to many other countries in the 14th century.Paper cutting works are usually made of red paper.Red is the most popular color in Chinese culture.We can see paper cutting works on walls, windows, doors, mirrors, lamps and so on.People also give paper cutting works as gifts.
It is easy to learn how to make paper cutting works.What we need is simply a piece of paper and a knife or a pair of scissors(剪刀).But to be good at this art is not easy at all because it needs much practice and imagination(想象力).From the art of paper cutting, people can know about Chinese culture, history and stories of people’s life.It is not only for Chinese, but also for people all over the world.
TWO
双语介绍
Chinese Paper Cutting is a folk art to create various designs or patterns with scissors or engraving knives for the decoration or ornament in various folk activities.As a traditional folk art, Paper Cutting is a very popular art with a very long history. The art of Paper Cutting was created almost at the same time with the birth of paper and has unique features.Paper Cutting creates a motley collection of designs and images, which contain rich cultural and historical information and, most importantly, are loaded with common people's emotional pursuit and aesthetic sense. These Paper Cutting creations convey multiple meanings: emotional expression,meaning conveyance, entertainment, commemoration, communication and so on.
剪纸是中国民间传统艺术的表现形式之一，它与纸的诞生同步，拥有悠久的历史和独特的风格，深受人们喜爱。剪纸塑造的形象和造型多种多样，蕴含了丰富的历史文化信息，更承载着人民大众的情感诉求和审美意识，具有抒情、表意、娱乐、纪念、交往等多重含义。
The skills of Paper Cutting are easy to learn, and its tools and materials are readily accessible,The Paper Cutting creators are usually the ingenious an crafty folk women. The working scenes,images of some characters, animals and plants, folklore, auspicious designs and expectations for a better future are the Paper Cutting creators' favorite subjects. Traditional Paper-Cutting creation is not confined by time and space,because the flexible combination,coordination of the subjects within one space or different spaces can exhibit unique creative perspectives and expressive techniques. Such free and whimsical creative techniques,which boast features of the times and reflect the connotation of humanity, are the reflection of working people's ideals and sentiments.
剪纸操作简便，材料和工具易于准备。传统剪纸的创作主体多为心细手巧的民间妇女，剪纸内容多取材于生活中的劳作场景、人物或动植物形象、民间传说故事、吉祥寓意的喜气图案或对未来生活的憧憬想象等。传统剪纸艺术的创作不受时空概念的限制，可将同一空间或不同空间的对象自由组合、搭配，展现出独特的构思角度和表现手法。这种随心自由的创作手法带有时代特征，反映人文内涵，是劳动人民理想和情感的宣泄。
The art of Paper Cutting is the crystallization of the wisdom and creation of the Chinese people. Till today, it still possesses its unique values of art and aesthetics. Today the craftsmen are creating works of art loaded with values of modem society with advanced technology, more creative skills and artistic techniques.As inheritors of the art of Paper Cutting, they are carrying forward its fine tradition and revitalizing it.
剪纸是中国劳动人民富有创造力的智慧结晶，在当今社会仍有其独特的艺术价值和审美价值。今天的手艺人借助先进的技术，运用更富创新性和艺术性的手法创作出更具现代社会内核的剪纸作品，传承和发扬了传统剪纸艺术，使其重新焕发了生命活力。
