Chinese New Year in Muse College: Paper-Cutting and Spring Couplet Writing Activity
Section 1: Chinese Paper-cutting for Window Decoration Workshop
Chinese paper cutting, also known as Jianzhi, is a traditional form of folk art that has a number of distinct uses in Chinese culture, almost all of which are for health, prosperity or decorative purposes. By cutting out various patterns, people create different images and styles containing diverse cultural-historical messages.
Master Manjun, YUAN is the fifth generation inheritor of intangible cultural heritage paper-cutting art in Yuan’s Style. She is also a member of Chinese Folk Literature and Art Association, vice president of Shenzhen Paper-Cutting Art Association, cofounder of Xisite Cultural and Creative Development (Shenzhen) Co, Ltd.
To begin with, Master Yuan introduced genres and styles of Chinese Paper-Cutting craft. She expressed her deep affection for Chinese Paper-Cutting, and she encouraged students to preserve and carry forward Chinese traditional culture.
Then it was time for students to gain hands-on paper-cutting experience.
Master Yuan offered instructions on students’ paper cutting.
Chinese Paper-Cutting also contains hollowed-out patterns, including dot and spiral shapes. Master Yuan demonstrated various styles of paper-cutting on site.
“Amid the boom of firecrackers a year has come to an end, and the spring wind has wafted warm breath to the wine.” Traditional and ritual practices evoke particular atmosphere. Muse Chinese Paper-Cutting workshop created a New Year ambience. By cutting out an exuberant dog pattern, students envisioned the coming Year of the Dog 2018 filled with good luck.
Work by students
Work by students
Section 2: Spring Couplet Writing Workshop
Chinese antithetical couplet is a pair of lines that have a one-to-one correspondence in their metrical length and each pair of characters must have certain corresponding properties. The words of couplets are profound and concise. A special, widely-seen type of couplets is the Spring Couplet that are usually seen on the sides of doors leading to people's homes across China in lunar New Year. They are used as a New Year's decoration that expresses happiness and hopeful thoughts for the coming year. Mr. Yuan HUANG was invited to instruct students on Spring Couplet-Writing.
Mr. Yuan HUANG is a member of Guangdong Folk Artists Association and Shenzhen Artists Association. He learned calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting, and seal carving from celebrated calligrapher and educationist Master Zhou XIE. Later, he majored in traditional Chinese painting, fine arts in South China Normal University. His work was selected in the collection of the Second Biennial of College Students’ Art Works in Guangdong Province.
Mr. Huang introduced Chinese Couplet’s origin and development. He also demonstrated skills and strokes in calligraphy.
Students practiced stroke by stroke before they were familiar with the skills and techniques.
Students wrote spring couplets on red couplet paper to welcome the New Year.
With their couplets, students took a group photo to mark the occasion.
With smiles and laughter, students envisioned a year full of happiness, peace and contentment.
Muse College, always with you.
