TheArtofPaper

　　ChenZijiangisapaper-cuttingexpertwhomIinterviewedformyarticleonChineseArt.

　　Paper-cuttingissomethingthathelearnedtodofromanearlyage.

　　"ItisaChinesefolkartwithalonghistory,"MrChentoldme,"PapercutsofanimalshavebeenfoundintombswhichdatebacktothetimeoftheNorthernandSouthernDynasty!"HeaddedthatbytheSouthernSongDynasty,paper-cuttinghadbecomeanimportantpartofeverydaylife."Ayoungfarmerwhowantedawifewouldlookatayoungwoman'spaper-cuttingskillsbeforemarryingher!"explainedMrChen,laughingatthelookofsurprise

　　onmyface.

　　MrChenwentontoexplainthattherearethreetypesofpapercutswhichpeoplestillmake

　　today:papercutsfordecoration,forreligiouspurposesandfordesignpatterns.Papercutsusedfordecorationareoftenseenonwindowsandgates.

　　Theyareusuallyputupduringholidaystobringgoodluck.Theyarealsousedonpresents.Apresentforparentswhosechildhasrecentlybeenbornmightshowapapercutofchildren,forexample.PapercutswhichshowtheChinesecharacterfordoublehappinessareoftenusedtocelebrateweddings.

　　Papercutsusedforreligiouspurposesareoftenfoundintemples.Theyarealsousedas

　　offeringstothedead.Peopletowhomthedeadpersonwasrelatedwouldmaketheseofferingsonspecialdaysandduringfestivals.

　　Thethirdkindofpapercutsarethoseusedtomakepatternsonclothing.Theyarealsosometimesusedtodecoratejewelleryboxes.Dragonsareverypopularpatternsforthese

　　designs.TheinterviewwasveryusefulasIgotalotofinterestinginformationformyarticle.Iwasalsoreadytotryoutpapercuttingformyself."Seeyounextweek,"IsaidasIwavedgoodbyetoMrChen.Iwasgoingtomeethimagainsothathecouldhelpmemakemyfirstpapercut!