Ansai villager passes down knowledge to younger generations with scissors in one hand and inspiration in the other, Chen Nan reports.

In a modest residential area in Ansai, a district of Yan'an city in Shaanxi province, an artist's hands dance across sheets of vibrant red paper. The rhythmic snip-snip-snip of her scissors fills the quiet atmosphere, creating intricate patterns that tell stories of ancient traditions, family tales and the ever-present beauty of rural China.

Yu Zeling is a master of the ancient art of Ansai paper-cutting, a practice dating back more than 2,000 years.

Her studio is a kaleidoscope of bright reds, with designs layered across the walls like a gallery of delicate, fleeting memories. Phoenixes in flight, blossoming flowers, dragons spiraling in midair, and traditional symbols of prosperity hang alongside one another, a testament to this unique art form's long, proud heritage.

In the middle of a scarlet-covered room, Yu bends over her desk, carefully shaping the paper with the precision of a surgeon, her hands steady despite years of cutting through countless layers.

"The story of Ansai paper-cutting is one of creativity and cultural preservation. This folk art has been passed down from mother to daughter for centuries, embodying the strength of local life, its people and their enduring connection to the land," says Yu, 59.

For her, paper-cutting is not merely an art but a means of preserving the heritage, expressing the heart and soul of the people, one snip at a time.

As a fine example of the intangible cultural heritage in Shaanxi, paper-cutting has seen great attention in its preservation. During his visit to Suide county in Shaanxi in September 2021, President Xi Jinping pointed out that folk art is a precious treasure of the nation, and it is of great significance to protect, inherit, and utilize these treasures.

Like magic

The roots of Ansai paper-cutting originated in the ancient rural villages of northern China. The art form was popular as a medium for people to express their aspirations, beliefs and dreams.

For centuries, villagers have mainly used bright red paper to adorn their homes during Chinese New Year and weddings.

In Ansai, the art took on distinctive characteristics. Unlike the more delicate and intricate paper-cuttings found in other regions, the Ansai designs are bold, dramatic, and full of movement. They often feature daily life scenes — agriculture, animal husbandry, and landscapes of northern China. The designs usually carry symbolic meanings — good fortune, and well-wishes for health, wealth and happiness.

According to Wang Saihong, director of the Ansai Cultural Center, folk art from Shaanxi province has an intense focus on community rituals. For instance, the protection against evil spirits is a common theme in Ansai paper-cutting, reflecting rural, often harsh life and the need for good fortune and divine protection in the face of unpredictable weather, natural disasters and social challenges.

It is in the remote villages of Ansai that the art of paper-cutting is most fiercely preserved. Women have passed the practice down through generations, teaching their children the secrets of creating patterns that blend geometric precision with artistic creativity. Whether creating simple motifs to decorate the home or intricate scenes for festive celebrations and weddings, Ansai paper-cutting has been central to the culture of the community, says Wang.

The cultural center displays paper-cutting works from different generations of artisans, educates the public about the art form, and organizes workshops dedicated to honing the craft.

Artisans often fold the paper before cutting, allowing them to produce symmetrical patterns that are highly intricate. The pieces are small, but the details make them impressive.

For Yu, the journey into the art form began early as a child. Growing up in a small farming family in Ansai, she was surrounded by the vastness of nature and rural life. Women in her family, especially her grandmother, were skilled at paper-cutting, which naturally inspired Yu to take on the traditional craft.

"They would sit for hours in the dim light of the yaodong (or cave houses, a unique style of dwelling in northern China), cutting delicate designs with scissors. I watched in awe as they turned a simple piece of red paper into a masterpiece that would bring luck and joy to the family," recalls Yu.

"It was like magic. They could make the paper come to life with just a few cuts."

Yu's initial encounter with this art ignited a lifelong passion within her. Nevertheless, it wasn't until much later in adulthood that she dedicated herself to mastering the craft.

In her youth, Yu spent years apprenticing under older masters in her village, learning the techniques and the cultural stories behind each design.

After mastering her skills, Yu was allowed to create her own patterns, which made her feel satisfied and accomplished.

"Each pattern has a story," she explains. "The dragon symbolizes strength and protection, the peony represents prosperity, and the pomegranate symbolizes fertility. Every cut tells something about our lives, our dreams, and our hopes."

When she got married at 19, Yu made herself a paper-cutting work featuring a lion rolling an embroidered ball with the "double happiness" character, a traditional Chinese symbol used in wedding decorations and celebrations.

"There is a saying: The lion rolls the embroidered ball, and good things are yet to come. I made this work for myself, and it's one of my favorite pieces," Yu recalls, laughing.

In 2005, Yu spent two months finishing a paper-cutting masterpiece measuring 10 meters in length and 1 meter in width. The artwork portrays the national campaign encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in regular physical activities that marked the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. The work was later collected by the General Administration of Sport of China.

For Yu, creating paper-cut designs is both meditative and physically demanding. She is skilled at creating works with improvised patterns. The most difficult designs require cutting through several layers of paper at once, and the scissors must be held with precision to create the finest details.

"It took many years before I could cut as skillfully as my teachers. When I was finally able to do it, it felt like a deep connection to the past," Yu says.

A new generation

In 2006, Ansai paper-cutting was recognized as part of the intangible cultural heritage of China. It is now promoted and preserved as an important cultural practice, with efforts to train new generations of artisans and promote it domestically and internationally.

Today, Yu's studio has become a place where she not only creates her art but also teaches young people the skills and history behind Ansai paper-cutting. The process of passing down this art form is just as important as the practice itself, she says.

Han Shu'ai is one of the students who began learning the craft with Yu in 1995. Han, 55, like Yu, grew up in a small village in Ansai and was intrigued by the art form since she was a child.

"At first, it seemed hard to learn all the details and symbols. As a housewife, I spent my spare time practicing," says Han.

"One of my first original works was a design featuring two cute chickens that I saw in my children's textbook. I turned them into paper-cuts and, unexpectedly, I won third place in a local competition. I received 500 yuan ($69) as a prize, which made me very happy."

Han was even happier when she won the opportunity to learn paper-cutting at Shaanxi Normal University in Xi'an in 2007. It was a one-month-long workshop, and Han says it fulfilled her dream of attending a university.

"Paper-cutting changed my life. I can show my creativity through the art form, which makes me feel more confident," Han says.

Chen Haili, 40, also a paper-cutting artisan from Ansai, started learning the craft in 2002. For her, the art form is a perfect fit because she is introverted.

"Paper-cutting is a meticulous and solitary art form, which requires focus and attention to detail," says Chen.

"The art form, an intricate, hands-on medium, allows me to express myself, my thoughts and feelings, and my ideas in a deeply personal way."

Her works, from the small 12 Chinese zodiac animals to larger scrolls portraying the performances of shanbei shuoshu, an art form featuring storytellers accompanied by traditional musical instruments, are typically done using single-color red paper, which gives the designs a bold and unified aesthetic.

In the past, people did paper-cutting mostly for home decorations during Spring Festival and wedding days, Chen says. Now, the art form appears on many occasions, particularly significant milestones, such as a housewarming, opening a business, and having a baby.

"In Chinese culture, these are moments celebrated with joy and well-wishes. Red-colored paper-cutting works are considered good omens," says Chen, who has customers throughout the country.

"I never expected that I could make a living by doing paper-cuts, which were commonly seen during my childhood," she adds.

"I'm glad that the unique style of Ansai paper-cutting has made the art form a beloved cultural treasure."