Papercutting Art for Lunar New Year – World Culture for Kids
Celebrating Lunar New Year with cultural activities! Papercutting art is a hands-on activity for kids and adults to explore art, the Chinese language, and culture.
Chinese paper design art is originated from cutting patterns for Chinese embroidery. Later it transformed into folk art. The history of paper cutting began in the 4th century in the Hàn dynasty, China. These 2D design papercutting art are window decorations. The 3D designs can be placed on tables and used as hanging decorations in the house.
We want to thank Taipei Confucius Temple for granting permission for us to share the beautiful Year of the TIGER papercutting designs here. We have included the English instruction and folding technique link for you and your family to explore.
A few years ago, I had a chance to meet a Chinese papercutting master at The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian in D.C. Master Xue was eighty years old at the time.
Master Xue was one of the presenters for the Lunar New Year program at Smithsonian. She brought her beautiful paper-cutting artworks and techniques to the event. When I heard her speaking the Chinese regional language that my Grandmother spoke I replied to her in the same language.
Language connects people.
Master Xue was surprised to hear her hometown language from me. I surprised myself for being able to use dialect words that I had not used for years. Master Xue showed me the award certificate that read “National Treasure level artist of papercutting, Master Xue… Then she showed me the pair of scissors she was using and told me that she had used it for the past forty years. “That’s like my best friend.” she chuckled and said showing me the steel scissors with the red handles. She passed it to me and said, “try it and see.”
I took it over and tried. The smoothness of the cutting was beyond compare.
Master said, “You will need good scissors and the right kind of paper. “
“Ahhh…, the papers, they don’t have the right kind of papers for the event. I didn’t bring enough of the papers I use for papercutting.”
I could sense the passion, the joy, and the professionalism in Master Xue. Her smile reminds me of my Grandmother.
Master Xue said she started practicing papercutting when she was young. “Late teen,” she said. She took me to the display tables and pointed out the unique design of her China doll papercutting design. She then cut me a panda right there without a template. Just the paper and the scissors.
All the designs are in her mind and heart.
When I asked her how she did that she looked at me with an amazingly warm smile and said, ” Practice! Every day since I was a teenager.”
Practice does not make perfect at once but it does take you to make progress on the journey of learning.
By sharing the story of Master Xue I hope you see papercutting art from a different perspective.
Below you can download the templates that I created and curated.
Lunar New Year is about togetherness and I hope you and our family can enjoy this cultural and art project together and share your creations with us on social media. Tag Miss Panda at @MissPandaChinese on FB and @Miss_Panda_Chinese on IG.
Wishing you and your family a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!
