中国非物质文化遗产：剪纸
Paper cutting is one of China’s most popular traditional folk arts. Chinese paper cutting has a history of more than 1,500 years. It was widespread particularly during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
剪纸是中国最为流行的传统民间艺术形式之一。中国剪纸有一千五百多年的历史，在明朝和清朝时期特别流行。
People often beautify their homes with paper cuttings. During the Spring Festival and wedding celebrations, in particular, paper cuttings are used to decorate doors, windows and rooms in order to enhance the joyous atmosphere.
人们常用剪纸美化居家环境，特别是在春节和婚庆期间， 剪纸被用来装饰门窗和房间，以增加喜庆的气氛。
This custom has a long history which not only brings festivity to the holiday, but is also a symbol for people to express their wishes for welcoming the new year, blessings, and fortunes.
这个习俗历史悠久，美丽的窗花不仅能妆点节日的气氛，还寄托了人们辞旧迎新，接福纳祥的美好愿望。
The color most frequently used in paper cutting is red, which symbolizes health and prosperity. Chinese paper cutting is very popular around the world and it is often given as a present to foreign friends.
剪纸最常用的颜色是红色，象征健康和兴旺。中国剪纸在世界各地很受欢迎，经常被用作馈赠外国友人的礼物。
Traditional paper cutting is also called “Window blossoms” because they were first put on windows for decoration. Other forms of paper cutting are derived from the “window blossoms”.
传统的剪纸也叫做“窗花”，因为它最初就是贴在窗户上作为装饰用的。其他的剪纸形式都是在窗花的基础上发展演变而来。
There are different styles of paper cutting indifferent parts of China. Generally speaking, farming women from North China pay special attention to concept, so the design flows with their thoughts. Paper cutting in South China is well known for its exquisite, elegant, realistic style. Therefore, northern and southern paper cutting can be distinguished as free and rugged, or elegant and exquisite, respectively. This reflects the difference in disposition and personality between the northern and southern parts of China.
中国各地的剪纸风格各异。一般来说，北方广大农村劳动妇女注重剪纸所表达的观念，想到哪儿剪到哪儿。而南方剪纸玲珑剔透严整优雅，以写实风格著称。于是形成了北方剪纸粗犷随意，南方水乡剪纸精致明快的“北犷南秀”的鲜明特色。反映了北方大陆与南方水乡劳动群众的性格气质。
Paper cutting in Yu county, Hebei province represents northern style with its bright colors. The paper was carved using a carving knife instead of using scissors. In the windows, the bright colors combined with light to form lovely patterns and shadows.
河北蔚县的剪纸是北方彩色剪纸的代表。这里的剪纸不是用剪刀剪出来的，而是用各种不同的刻刀。这种剪纸色泽明艳贴在窗子上光影效果极佳。
At first, a carving mold should be designed, and then the lines of the pattern will be drawn. After that, the mold is put on a stack of paper and different kinds of knives are used to carve along the lines. The last step is to color the paper. Dyes are mixed with liquor and are brushed onto white paper. This procedure is called “smoking sample”. The wetted carved mold is put on white paper and smoked with a candle. Before the copying machine was invented, the paper cut artists copied their carving mold using this technique.
首先要“设计”一个用作雕刻的模版，用笔仔细勾画出图案的线条。然后把模版放在一叠纸的上面，再用各种不同的刻刀，沿着线条把图案刻出来。最后一步是“染色”。用白酒调配好颜料，再用毛笔均匀地涂在刻好的白纸上。这个步骤叫“熏样”。把剪好的模版用水蘸湿贴在白纸上，再用蜡烛的烟熏黑。在复印机还没有发明出来时，剪纸艺人们就用这种方式来复制他们的模版。
The famous “Nine-dragon Paper cut”，the nine dragons are not only vivid, but also each of the fine lines is connected.
著名的“九龙剪纸”，不仅九条神龙活灵活现，而且每一处线条都是连接在一起的。
Southern papercutting mainly includes Guangdong Foshan paper-cutting, Wuhan folk paper-cutting and Fujian folk papercutting.
南方剪纸主要有广东佛山剪纸，武汉民间剪纸以及福建民间剪纸。
The most distinctive style should be Putian gift flowers. Congratulate birthday and celebrates longevity，worships gods and ghosts, and worships ancestors. Whether it is a gift or an offering, a bright red papercutting flower must be attached. Even pig's head, pig's feet, pig's belly and chicken's paw are the same.
最有特色的样式应称莆田的礼品花。贺生贺喜贺寿，祭神祭鬼祭祖，不管是馈赠还是摆供，都要赋上一枚鲜红的剪纸花。就连猪头、猪脚、猪肚儿、鸡爪，也都如此。
Today, paper cutting have walked out from the domestic decoration to modern interior design. The art form is reflected on trade marks, advertisement, interior decoration, fashion design, book binding, stamp design and cartoon books. The theme is not limited to traditional Chinese life, but encompasses different cultural artifacts.
如今的剪纸，早已走出了中国人家的小院，走入了现代设计的广阔天地。在产品包装设计、商标广告、室内装潢、服装设计、书籍装帧、邮票设计、连环画等处都有它的影子。主题也不再局限于中国人的传统生活，而开始表现各种不同的文化内容。
