Shes Fujian Paper - Cut

The research object of the thesis is the paper cut-out of the She ethnic group intwo villages: Banyueli Village of Xi’nan Township in Xiapu County, and Fuhu Villageof Huokou She Ethnic Township in Luoyuan County, Fujian Province, China. Via anin-depth investigation within a small range, the thesis researches the villages, localcustoms, and paper cut-out. The thesis aims to find the historical and cultural valuecontained in the She paper cut-out, explore the relationship among the paper cut-out,people, and villages, and sort out the presence of the She paper cut-out in the villagesvia individual cases.Both villages are typical She settlement villages. On ceremonies (e.g. weddings,ancestral worships, and housewarming parties) and festivals (e.g. the double-thirdfestival), it is common that women wear hand-made phoenix dresses, embroidery onwhich is made according to paper cut-out samples that are called flower seeds. Inreligious beliefs, a man-shaped paper cut-out with lotus flowers in hand and boots onfeet, called "hai yi", represents the ritual object and has psychic powers. In folklore,paper cut-outs are essential parts of ceremonies and parties, such as weddings,funerals, and birthday ceremonies for aged people. The thesis is a preliminary study ofthe two She settlement villages’ traditional art of paper cutting upon a systematicinvestigation.The thesis is divided into three parts: introduction, body, and epilogue. Theintroduction part describes the selection of the research object, the research summary,and the method, purpose and significance of the study. The body consists of fivechapters. Chapter one gives a brief account of the She ethnic group and presents thenatural environment, life style and customs, and cultural background of the two Shevillages. Chapter two analyzes the four types of paper cut-outs in the two villages and their cultural connotations. Chapter three describes the tools, materials, andtechniques used in paper cut-outs, inheritors and their magnum opuses, and theevolution of the paper cut-out. Chapter four analyzes the status quo of cultures andinheritance of the paper cut-out in the villages. Chapter five is the epilogue. I hopethat, via the investigation and study of the She paper cut-out based on the unit ofvillage, the thesis can record the mastering and usage of the She paper cut-out in Shepeople’s lives and beliefs, thus providing detailed and reliable text for the recordingand inheritance of the She paper cut-out.