Most of the traditional folk paper-cuts we see are red, and only a few are colored and registered. Monochrome paper-cuts are basically red. Why is this happening? Why not use other colors? This problem has troubled many people. I'm here to explain to you that the formation of this habit is related to China people's national psychology of advocating red, because red is warm, bright and warm, which represents a thriving life. In China, red is regarded as the mainstream color, which represents the optimistic, peaceful and positive national spirit, whether in the past or now, whether it is the emperor or the people.

In the eyes of China people, red is considered as an auspicious color. Red envelopes, red carpets, great happiness, good luck, full house and all major festive activities are the protagonists, and paper-cutting is a frequent visitor in these scenes. Red has naturally become its true colors, such as red happy characters at weddings and window grilles posted in the New Year. After a long time, people will recognize and get used to this color, otherwise it will be against the rules and common sense. In addition, papermaking was invented by China people, and paper-cutting was also invented by China people, so paper-cutting also represents the characteristics of China.

At first, paper-cutting was done by housewives in their spare time while sewing for their children under the lamp. They don't care so much, or they just take the old cigarette case thrown away by their husbands and cut it open with scissors, which is nothing more than self-expression of good wishes. However, it is under such circumstances that folk paper-cutting with distinctive national characteristics came into being and gradually became a part of people's embellishment of life. At that time, people's living conditions were poor. Living in a dark cave or a low-rise earthen house, during the New Year in China, a skilled woman cut out window grilles with the red paper left over from her husband's couplets. After putting up the couplets, she put them on enough paper by the way, and the room immediately brightened up a lot, adding a festive atmosphere, and the children would dance with joy. This is the powerful pleasure and spiritual satisfaction that paper-cutting brings to people.

Paper-cutting has other uses besides embellishing the festive atmosphere. For example, sacrificial ceremony and funeral ceremony also have their own forms, but this kind of paper-cut is different from our common traditional folk paper-cut, which is a form of interaction and integration between paper civilization and other cultures. Its manifestations are more colorful, and its colors are more diverse, such as black, white, blue and yellow, and their meanings are quite different, so I won't introduce them here. In a word, the traditional folk paper-cutting in China is red, which is a big idea.