Paper-weaving art in Yongchun county. [Photo/fujian-szwhg.chaoxing.com]

Paper-weaving art is seen mainly in Yongchun county, Quanzhou, Fujian province. It has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage item in the traditional fine arts category.

Yongchun county, located in southern Fujian, has a long history of producing bamboo to be used for various utensils. Inspired by folk bamboo weaving, scholars and artists collaborated, leading to the emergence of the precursor to paper-weaving art during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), making it a tradition with a history of 1,300 years.

Paper-weaving art is a flat craft art with highly complex processes involving designing, painting, cutting, weaving, mounting and coloring. It is characterized by a hazy and subtle color palette, emphasizing changes in light and scenery, creating a sense of three-dimensionality. Paper weaving art engages visual perception through optical illusions and overlapping images, encouraging viewers to reinterpret what they see and offering a truly unique artistic experience.

Paper-weaving art gradually developed during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, reaching its peak during the Qing Dynasty. After that, its production declined, with the number of workshops declining to a mere four. In Yongchun, there are over 10 paper-weaving art clubs, with notable representatives including Zhou Wenhu, Huang Xiuyun and Li Zijie.

Today, paper-weaving art in Yongchun has gained international recognition, being exhibited in over 40 countries and presented as gifts to people from around the world, serving as a symbol of friendship between nations. Yongchun county has been honored as the hometown of paper-weaving art, which has been designated as a folk art protection project.