The Southern town of Yangzhou is considered to be at the heart of traditional paper cutting. It is one of the earliest regions to adopt paper cutting as a folk art. Many designs from Southern China are created within Yangzhou and represent a large proportion of paper cuttings in exhibition in other countries.

Paper cutting became a popular art form in Yangzhou after the emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty (581-618) ordered his maids to produce paper cuttings of spring during the winter to place around his Yangzhou palace.

During the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) Dynasties, paper cuttings were used to welcome the coming of spring. They would be hung up alongside New Year posters to bring good luck for the new year ahead. Popular patterns included animal shapes such as butterflies, Chinese zodiac symbols and other festive subjects associated with spring. Flowers were often featured in many designs.

Yangzhou paper cuttings were also used in memorial ceremonies to commemorate the deceased. Paper cuttings in the form of horses, spirits and money were either buried with the deceased or burnt. The famous Chinese poet once wrote “Wash my feet with hot water and call back my spirit by cutting paper”.

By the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), paper cutting had many purposes. They were still used for festive decorations and to honour the deceased. They were also used as models for embroidery. Paper cuttings were so popular during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasties that many artists could survive off the income of selling only their paper art. Unfortunately, paper cutting decreased dramatically after the end of the Qing Dynasty and was neglected due to social unrest and wars.

After the formation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, paper cut art was recognized as an important element of Yangzhou history and culture. In 1955, The Agency of Folk Arts and Crafts was created to reestablish forgotten and neglected folk arts within Yangzhou. Scattered folk artists were gathered together and given workstations and financial support to continue making elegant and appreciated works of art including paper cutting. This agency is now called The Yangzhou Arts and Crafts Factory which produces more than one thousand artworks annually.

The exquisite designs and patterns produced by Yangzhou paper cut artists are among the finest in the world. Yangzhou continues to produce valuable pieces of art work and will always be known as the Southern heart of paper cutting.