Paper cutting

Chinese paper cutting turns one red sheet into a window flower or wedding sign.

ToolsScissors or a knife

UNESCO heritageListed in 2009

Best-known useNew Year window flowers

StylesBold north, fine south

Cut a double happiness sign in three steps

Fold a red rectangle in half twice. Draw half of 喜 so its bars run into the folds.

Remove the spaces, not the strokes. Every line must connect to another, or the piece falls apart.

Unfold and check for tears. Press it flat inside a book, then fix it to a window with small bits of tape.

One sheet, one pair of scissors, no second try.

选Small unevenness in the lines, a sign of hand cutting.

选A listing that says hand-cut or machine-cut. Laser pieces come out identical.

选Hang it out of direct sun, ideally behind UV-filtering glass. Red paper fades.

选A regional style you like: bold Shaanxi, fine Yangzhou or colored Yuxian.

Hand-picked pieces are on the way.

What is Chinese paper cutting?

It is a folk art of cutting patterns from paper with scissors or a knife. Families paste red cuttings on windows and doors for New Year and weddings.

What do Chinese paper cuts mean?

The images carry wishes. Fish stand for plenty, because 鱼 sounds like 余, surplus. Double happiness is a blessing for a marriage.

How old is Chinese paper cutting?

At least 1,400 years. Paper cuttings from the Northern Dynasties were found in tombs at Turpan, Xinjiang, and the craft may be older.