Miao paper cutting

Author: Zhong Tao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: The Miao ethnic group is one of the minority groups with a large population and wide distribution in southwestern China. They primarily inhabit Guizhou and adjacent areas such as Western Hunan, Eastern Yunnan, Southern Sichuan, Southern Chongqing, Southwest Hubei, and Northern Guangxi, with over 30,000 people living in central and southern Hainan. The Miao people mostly live in geographically disadvantaged mountainous areas, long-term isolation has led to slow social development, and they have preserved many unique living customs and cultural traditions. Some branches of the Miao ethnic group use paper-cut patterns in embroidery, which, in terms of art, are as ingenious as embroidery. However, since they are not displayed independently, few outsiders are aware of them. The Miao people do not have the habit of cutting window paper like the Han and northern minority groups, except for using a few extremely simple paper-cut patterns occasionally in religious activities. Only embroidery extensively uses paper-cutting, with a wide variety of patterns. Therefore, what people refer to as Miao paper-cutting refers to embroidery paper-cutting. This book includes articles such as "An Overview of Miao Paper-Cutting," "Miao Paper-Cutting—The Twin Sister of Embroidery," "Regional Types and Characteristics of Patterns," "Paper-Cutting Images and Ancient History and Religion," and "The Fantasy of Images and Primitive Thinking."
Illustrations: Shidong Type, Balaha River Type, Upper Daliu River Type, Other Types, Western Hunan Type.