中国民间剪纸微刊2023年第一期

      “赤手南山缚猛虎，月中取兔天漫漫”。虎去神州，兔奔华夏，为了更好地弘扬中国优秀民俗文化，迎接癸卯兔年的到来，南京大学文化与自然遗产研究所于兔年春节期间举办“迎新春全国民间剪纸精品网展”活动，本次剪纸作品内容丰富，覆盖面广，自活动筹备一个多月以来，南京大学文化与自然遗产研究所聘任的剪纸创研员和非遗民间剪纸保护联盟及参加第四期民间剪纸大学堂中级培训班的师生，积极参加，踊跃创作，共剪（刻）出约五百幅作品，本次网展严格甄选出150余幅优秀作品参展。剪纸网展活动不仅激发了民间艺人剪纸的兴趣，更点燃了其创作的热情，一幅幅精妙绝伦的兔形剪纸作品彰显出民间艺人对优秀传统文化的推崇。

     从古至今，人们对兔情有独钟，兔形传情，赋予其丰富多彩的文化内涵，形成了富有特色的民间兔文化。中国关于兔的记载源远流长，关于兔的神话传说丰富多样。嫦娥奔月、玉兔捣药的美丽传说在中国家喻户晓。在民俗文化中，民间兔形被转换成有形的文化，演变成剪纸、香包、彩绘、面花等形状。拿一个周期年来说，正月要点起兔花灯，寓意来年生活红红火火；清明梁悬兔寒燕，象征着春天的到来；端午节绣制兔香包能够驱邪保平安；中秋节摆供兔儿爷可以祛病消灾祸。此外，随着兔文化深入人心，喻阴多子的兔同喻阳多福的蛇结合成男女婚合喜花，成为布置洞房的标志。在举行结婚庆典时，婚房里贴上“蛇盘兔”剪纸或挂“蛇盘兔”香包，象征着夫妻恩爱和睦，幸福美满。可见，民间兔文化充实着人们的民俗生活，表现在岁时节日和人生仪礼的方方面面，在各式各样的艺术形态中，兔的形象从大自然中脱离出来，变成一种趋吉纳祥的寄托。

     生存和繁衍长久以来是民间古老的生命主题，中国的剪纸艺术植根于民间，受中国传统文化的滋养而经久不衰。因此，祈求家族的繁荣兴盛，生生不息是民间剪纸表达的核心概念。兔子有着强盛的繁殖能力，甚至有单性生殖的能力，因此，古人对兔子产生了生殖崇拜，很早就有“望月生孕”的说法。晋代《博物志》中就有“望月而孕，自吐其子”的记载。在民俗文化中，“蛇盘兔”剪纸作为其典型代表广为流传。一条盘旋的蛇将一只憨态可掬的兔子盘在中间，两者相互缠绕，相互依存。在婚俗中，人们认为，蛇机智、灵动、善于敛财，而兔柔顺、温和、善于守财，蛇和兔是两个最为吉利的婚配属相。如果属蛇的男人娶了属兔的女人，这是上好的姻缘，能带来人丁兴旺、富贵吉祥、团圆美满的好运。“蛇盘兔”剪纸作品不仅剪出了形象的鲜活生动、艺术的多姿多彩，更是剪出了一个幸福的世界，剪出了人民群众千百年来对和谐美满生活的向往与追求，是生命永生的符号、多子多福的象征，有着趋吉避祸的意蕴以及富贵圆满的寓意。

     生肖文化深深根植于中华民俗文化的土壤之中，融入世间生活的方方面面。在中国农历癸卯兔年来临之际，兔作为十二生肖的一员，与皓月齐名，又富祥瑞之意。玉兔迎春岁月新，南京大学文化与自然遗产研究所主办的“迎新春全国民间剪纸作品网展”不仅是对中国和全球华人新年的美好祝福，也是对中国传统民俗文化崇高的褒扬和致敬。

    “Fierce tigers were caught in the south mountain with bare hands, rabbits were gotten in the moon for long days”.The tiger went to China and the rabbit went to China. In order to carry forward the excellent folk culture of China and welcome the coming of the Year of the Rabbit, the Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage of Nanjing University held the "National Folk Paper-cutting Fine Products Exhibition" during the Spring Festival of the Year of the Rabbit. The paper-cutting works were rich in content and covered a wide range.The paper cutting researchers appointed by the Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage of Nanjing University, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Folk paper Cutting Protection Alliance and the teachers and students who participated in the fourth intermediate training class of Folk paper cutting University actively participated in the exhibition, and cut (engraved) about 500 works. More than 150 excellent works were strictly selected to participate in the exhibition.The paper-cutting network exhibition not only inspired the folk artists' interest in paper-cutting, but also ignited their enthusiasm for creation. The exquisite rabbit paper-cutting works highlight the folk artists' respect for excellent traditional culture.

    Since ancient times, people have a special liking for the rabbit. The shape of the rabbit conveys emotions, giving it rich and colorful cultural connotation, forming a characteristic folk rabbit culture.There is a long history of records about the rabbit in China, and the myths and legends about the rabbit are rich and varied.The beautiful legend of Chang 'e flying to the moon and Jade rabbit pounding medicine is widely known in China.In folk culture, folk rabbit shape is transformed into tangible culture, evolved into paper-cut, sachet, color painting, flour sculpture flower and other shapes.Take a cycle year for example, the point of the first month rabbit lanterns, meaning the coming year life thriving;On Tomb-sweeping day hanging rabbits on beam cold symbolize the arrival of spring;Dragon Boat Festival embroidery rabbit sachet can ward off evil and protect peace;The Mid-Autumn Festival for rabbit doll can dispel disease to eliminate disasters.In addition, as the rabbit culture is deeply rooted in the hearts of people, the rabbit, which symbolizes females and abundant children, and the snake, which symbolizes males and abundant blessings, combine into a man and a woman to marry and enjoy flowers, which becomes the symbol of arranging the wedding chamber.When the wedding ceremony is held, the wedding room is pasted with "snake entangles rabbit" paper-cut or hang "snake entangle rabbit" sachet, symbolizing the couple's love and harmony, happiness.It can be seen that folk rabbit culture enriches people's folk life, which is manifested in all aspects of festivals and life rituals. In various forms of art, the image of rabbit is separated from nature and becomes a kind of symbol towards happy and auspicious.

    Survival and reproduction has long been an ancient folk life theme, Chinese paper-cut art is rooted in the folk, nourished by Chinese traditional culture and enduring.Therefore, praying for the prosperity of the family, endless life is the core concept of folk paper-cut expression.Rabbits have strong reproductive ability, even have the ability of parthenogenesis, therefore, the ancient people had reproductive worship of rabbits, and there was a very old saying“ only seeing moon，only can pregnant”.Jin Dynasty a book called"Bo Wu Zhi"records "seeing the moon and pregnant, then birthed his sons" .In folk culture, "snake entangles rabbit" paper-cut as its typical representative is widely spread.A snake coiled a charmingly naive rabbit in the middle, the two intertwine and depend on each other.In marriage customs, people believe that the snake is witty, smart and good at amassing money, while the rabbit is gentle, gentle and good at keeping money. The snake and the rabbit are the two most auspicious mating signs.If a man born in the year of snake marries a woman born in the year of rabbit, it is a good match, bringing prosperity, wealth, auspiciousness and happiness to the family.The paper-cut works of "snake entangles rabbit" not only cut out vivid images and colorful art, but also cut out a happy world, cut out thousands of years of people's yearning for and pursuit of a harmonious and happy life, is a symbol of life immortality, a symbol of having more children and more happiness, with the implication of seeking good luck and avoiding evil and the implication of wealth and perfection.

   Chinese Zodiac culture is deeply rooted in the soil of Chinese folk culture and has been integrated into every aspect of life in the world.At the approaching of the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese lunar calendar, the rabbit, as a member of the Chinese zodiac, is as famous as the bright moon and has the meaning of auspiciousness.The Jade Rabbit welcomes the New Year. The "Spring Festival National Folk Paper-cut Works Network Exhibition" organized by the Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage of Nanjing University is not only a beautiful blessing to China and the global Chinese New Year, but also a noble praise and tribute to Chinese traditional folk culture.