Far Eastern Art - Chinese Folk Art - The Cultural Versatility

Chinese Folk Art - The Concept
Folk Art is a part of a country's cultural heritage. It is a creative form, regional communities or ethnic groups inherit within a country. It is very different from Fine arts because the Folk Artists are not academically trained. They acquire their skills as a legacy and develop it under the guidance of their ancestors. Folk Art mirrors the history, living, and rituals of the province or religion of its origin. Chinese Folk Art is one of the oldest and the most extensive art forms in the world. Ardent admirers of the awe-inspiring Chinese Folk Art can be found globally. Chinese Folk Artists rely on intuition, experience, and practices for inspiration to create their art forms. Most forms of Chinese Folk Arts are crude, handmade works, but display aesthetic value.

The Types

• Paper Art - It developed in China in 100 B.C. Red is the commonest color used, as the Chinese consider it auspicious. The art form has the following types:
  • - Paper Cutting - Beautiful, intricate, and elegant designs are impeccably cut out of colorful rice paper using knives or scissors. These paper cuts were used to decorate windows, mirrors, columns, walls, lamps, and doors. They were also used as stencils for embroidery and lacquer purposes.
  • - Paper Folding - It is called Zhezhi in Chinese. This art dates back to the 6th century and is known to be the predecessor of Origami. Chinese Paper Folding involves single or multiple papers being folded in a special way to form amazing shapes like boats or pagodas.
  
  

Puppetry - It is the oldest form of Chinese Folk Art, dating back to 2000 years. The various kinds of puppets the Folk Artists made were Marionettes (manipulated with strings), Wire Puppets, Glove Puppets (worn on the hand), Rod Puppets, and Cloth or Rag Puppets. Puppet shows and dances were performed on folk songs, old fables, and children's fairy stories.

Shadow Play - Also called Shadow Puppetry, it emerged during the Han Dynasty for entertainment and storytelling purposes. It became the most famous form of Folk Art during the Song Dynasty rule. Shadow Puppetry used intricately carved flat puppets made out of paper, cardboard, or sheepskin. These puppets were held in the front of illuminated surfaces to perform stories. It is said that monks used this art form first to preach in Buddhist temples.

Chinese Knot - It is a traditional Chinese Decorative Handicraft Art made using various pattern forming knots. This art form had almost vanished since the emergence of modern China. There are 11 kinds of knots:- Cloverleaf Knot, Sauvastika Knot, Chinese Button Knot, Round Brocade Knot, Pan Chang Knot, Double Coin Knot, Cross Knot, Square Knot, Double Connection Knot, Plafond Knot, and Good Luck Knot.

Some other forms of Chinese folk arts that developed in the latter centuries are, woodblock prints, embroidery, and Chinese furniture.

Source : Ezinearticles