Thai students fascinated by Laiwu's paper-cutting tradition

Paper-cut artist Wang Yufang arranges a freshly-made paper-cut of the Chinese characters "平安". [Photo by Wei Ronghua for chinadaily.com.cn]

Laiwu Vocational and Technical College in Jinan, the capital of Shandong province, recently welcomed eight international students from Thailand who have been charmed by traditional Chinese paper-cutting, an intangible cultural heritage item in Laiwu district.

Surrounded by these eager learners, Wang Yufang, a 73-year-old paper-cut artist, demonstrated the art of creating paper-cutting works using just one pair of scissors.

Engaged in the handicraft for more than 60 years, Wang joined the college as a paper-cut teacher in 2017. Since then, she has taught more than 1,000 students, with this particular occasion marking first time she has instructed foreign students.

Wang teaches with great enthusiasm and typically prepares the work ahead for students to imitate, said a Thai student with the Chinese name of Zheng Yaoyue. Zheng added that she plans to present all her paper-cuttings as gifts to members of her family.

Guided by the teacher and paper-cutting enthusiasts from surrounding residential communities, the students completed their first paper-cutting work – a cut of the Chinese characters "平安" (meaning peace and safety in English) designed specifically for window decoration.

To deepen their understanding of the art, Wang has also explored similar forms of art in foreign cultures. The artist noted that while it might be somewhat challenging for them to grasp the meaning of the patterns in paper-cuttings, she reminded the students that there are similar types of art in their own Thai culture, and both cultures share an appreciation of beauty. (Edited by Gong Jun)