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Chinese folk art orChinese handcrafts are artistic forms inherited from a regional or ethnic scene inChina. Usually there are some variation betweenprovinces. Individualfolk arts have a long history, and many traditions are still practiced today. The general definition of folk art incorporatesChinese art forms that are not classified asChinese fine art.
Chinese folk art is the ancient forms of art that originated in China. Some of these ancient art forms include jade carvings,performance art such as music and their respective instruments, textile art such as basket weaving, paper art and clothing.
Jade is a semi-rare green mineral found in prominent use in Chinese art sinceprehistoric times. Carvings using jade have been a common elevated folk art in China. From objects such as masks to animals, jade—along with cheaper wood and bamboo—found use in many works of art. At times, the highest quality jade has been esteemed more highly than gold, diamonds, or pearls. Due to the toughness of jade, it is believed that Chinese jade carvings were first carved into weapons such as swords, although it is unclear if the sword carvings were for ceremonial or utilitarian use. As time went on, jade was carved into many different shapes and forms. An important early example of jade carving were the circular disks known asbi, generally understood to representthe heavens in some fashion. By 3000 BC, jade was referred toyu (玉). By 206 BC, Xu Shen—a Chinese scholar under theHan—listed the Five Virtues of Jade as benevolence, honesty, wisdom, integrity, and bravery.[citation needed] It further represents love, strength, purity, luck, and gentleness.[citation needed] Jade is also used infengshui, adding harmony and balance to its space.
Baskets are mainly woven with bamboo or plant stems.
China is the birthplace of thekite, andWeifang is one of the chief places where Chinese kites originated. Kite-flying became prevalent in Weifang in theSong dynasty (960–1279). By theMing dynasty (1368–1644) kite-flying had become even more popular, and kite fairs on a rather large scale had appeared. Kites were sold not only acrossShandong, but also toJiangsu,Fujian,Anhui and other places. The noted English scholarJoseph Needham listed kites in his bookHistory of Science and Technology in China as one of the important contributions in science and technology that the Chinese introduced toEurope.[citation needed]
Sugar painting(t糖畫,s糖画,tánghuà) is a form of traditional Chinese folk art using hot, liquid sugar to create two dimensional objects on a marble or metal surface.
Sugar people(糖人) is a traditional Chinese form of folk art using hot, liquid sugar to create three-dimensional figures.
Mian Ren (Flour Figure) are made of coloured flours. Craftsmen used to travel with their tools to villages and towns to make and sell flour figures for a very basic income. Sometimes flour figures are used in dishes together with vegetable carvings.
The first two forms of paper art began in the Han dynasty withChinese paper cutting andChinese paper folding, together with thehand fan andpinwheel (toy).
Chinese paper cutting (剪纸,jianzhi) is a type of folk art that has roots in China during the 6th century and is attributed toCai Lun during theHan Dynasty.
Known to be very intricate with the use of negative space, paper cutting is used for mostly decorative reasons, appearing on mirrors, lanterns, walls, etc.
In most cities andChinatowns, paper art will adorn many street corners, business fronts, and inside buildings.
One of the oldest forms offolk art ispuppetry. Puppeteers use various kinds of puppets, includingmarionettes,glove puppets, rod puppets, cloth puppets and wire puppets in performances incorporating folk songs and dances over some dialogues. The subject matter is derived mainly from children's stories and fables.
Shadow plays are a form of puppetry that is performed by moving figures made ofanimal skins orcardboard held behind a screen lit by lamplight. The subject matter and singing style in shadow plays are closely related toChinese opera, except without using live actors or actresses. This art style was passed down from master to apprentice until recently. The most common troupe roster is one puppeteer, one singer, and a band of musicians. Shadow puppetry was banned by thegovernment in 1966 during theCultural Revolution, but allowed back in the late 1970s.
Chinese knotting (中國結) is a decorative handicraft art that began as a form of Chinese folk art in the Tang and Song dynasty[1] (AD 960–1279) in China. It was later popularized in the Ming. The art is also referred to as Chinese traditional decorative knots.[2] One of the more traditional art forms, it creates decorative knot patterns. It was not practiced during the Culture Revolution,[3] but nowadays it is very popular again.
Tiger-head shoes(虎头鞋) are an example of traditional Chinese folk handicraft used as footwear for children. Their name comes from the toe cap, which looks like the head of a tiger.
Bolang gu, a traditional Chinesepellet drum andtoy.
Muyu, a rounded woodblock carved in the shape of a fish, it is played by striking the top with a wooden stick; often used in Buddhist chanting.
