Susan Blumberg-Kason

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Shopping for Chinese paper cuts in Hong Kong

May 25, 2012 By Susan Blumberg-Kason 3 Comments

It’s been two years since I blogged about Chinese paper cuts. That post was one of the first I wrote, and to sum it up, I lamented not buying enough Chinese handicrafts before I moved away from Hong Kong in 1998.

So on my trip to Hong Kong last month, I was determined to stockpile little gifts I could give away back in the US. Chinese paper cuts would be perfect! (These are the ones I bought in 1996 and sent to my paternal grandmother.)

Chinese cut outs

Since my trip was so rushed, I must confess I didn’t put in extra time looking for cut outs. (The places where I used to buy them are long gone.) I’ve blogged about the gifts I bought my kids and the cheongsams I bought for myseslf. First things first, but still…

As luck would have it, we had some leftover Hong Kong dollars when we returned to the airport for our departure. I motioned Tom toward a bookstore and low and behold–I found cut outs! A colorful dragon:

And this red dragon. It is the Year of the Dragon, after all. I also bought a cut out of a fish with the Chinese character for good luck (but I’ve given that away already).

Each one is 100% hand cut (it’s one piece; no pasting together) and came from far away: Hohhot, Inner Mongolia!

According to a little insert in the card’s package written by one Xing Ruirong, Chinese paper cutting dates back to the Eastern Han dynasty (AD25-220). Popular paper cuts also include birds, fish, landscapes, other animals, and the Chinese characters for good luck and a happy marriage. They’re placed on windows and doors for birthdays, the Chinese New Year, weddings, and other celebrations and festivals.

I’ve already given away two of the five cards I bought.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: China, Hong Kong, My Family's Travels

Comments

  1. www.dealstoreschina.com says

    January 24, 2013 at 1:58 pm

    I like chinese paper cuts

    Reply
  2. Stuart Beaton says

    May 26, 2012 at 8:26 am

    I went to see some papercuts being made last year at a little factory.

    They were banging them out by the thousands, using a press.

    When I pointed out that doing so didn’t quite match the “hand cut” label, the guy showing me around said:

    “He uses his hand to push the button to cut them. Hand. Cut.”

    Reply
    • Susan Blumberg-Kason says

      May 26, 2012 at 9:19 pm

      That’s funny! I wonder if they even have machinery like that in Hohhot! Probably! Still, it’s fun to think it’s done the old fashioned way.

      Reply

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