Taoist Paper Art

Introduction

Taoist Paper art is traditionally used for blessings and sacrifices in the Chinese area. Often used in various traditional festivals and religious ceremonies . Paper art is offer to the gods or the dead by burning.

There are many different names for Taoist Paper art in the folks, such as tie Zuo, paste paper, tie paper, tie paper library, tie cover, color paste and so on. The broad sense of paper tie includes colored doors, sheds, stage, shop facade decoration, plaques and figures, paper horses, opera characters, dance equipment, kites, lanterns, etc. In a narrow sense, the paper tie refers to the funeral paper tie, which is mainly used for burning paper products such as paper people, paper horses, money trees, gold mountains and silver mountains, archways, gate towers, houses, poultry, etc., which are tied in sacrifices and funeral activities.

Origin

Paper binding originated from the activities of ancient folk religious sacrifices, and later gradually became a decorative art to celebrate festivals. During festivals or celebrations, folk artists will use their skills to make a humorous "mouse climbing grape lantern", a "unicorn lantern" that delights precious children, and a "duck (press) child" that hopes children's health. "Lamp", "Mandarin Duck Lamp" for blessing newlyweds, "Goldfish Lamp" for praying for a good harvest, as well as various flowers, birds and animals. Bamboo, wood, thread, and paper are used as the main materials for these various paper products with beautiful colors, simple shapes and bright meanings. Take bamboo and wood as the skeleton and decorate with pasted colored paper. Add a few colors to the festive and cheerful activities, and at the same time put a layer of mystery on the mourning and sacrifice scenes.The art of paper binding in China originally originated from funeral customs. It is a folk art that combines techniques such as binding, pasting, paper-cutting, clay sculpture, and color painting. It is a form for satisfying the psychological and spiritual needs of the people's sacrificial beliefs.

Meaning

Paper tie is a kind of art, and it also represents a precious heart. It is the last gift for the deceased, and it has a special meaning for the deceased and their relatives.

To complete each work with empathy, the paper will reveal life and convey the most true feelings for people. The meaning of the paper stick is to be burned. It is believed that the moment when the paper stick burns, the paper stick product is sent to the other world where the deceased is, so that the deceased can use it. Let the deceased relatives live comfortably in another world, and let the family members feel less regretful. Burning modern paper-tied objects for deceased relatives has long been a trend, and it can be regarded as a peace of mind. I hope that the ancestors can live well in another world, and everything is worth it!

Out of the frame

If you think about the funeral at the first time when it comes to paper tie, you are too out of date~

Now, many artists combine paper tie with modern architecture. Paper binding is no longer just used for sacrifices, it has become more artistic. Now people say that paper binding is no longer such a heavy matter, this is art that escapes the frame.