The attraction of the traditional Chinese folk art of papercutting lies in its apparent simplicity: a typical papercut requires no paints or brushes, only an ordinary pair of scissors or a knife, and a single sheet of paper. Unique among Chinese folk arts, papercutting's influence on other fields and its number and variety of products reveal the depth of its roots in popular culture as a means of-beautifying the everyday environment.

In recent years, as a number of papercut artists have gone abroad to exhibit their works and demonstrate their skills, both the interest in and the market for Chinese papercuts have increased. This book is intended to provide an introduction to the origins and history, the style, the themes, and the techniques involved in papercutting. It is illustrated with more than 200 reproductions, half of which are in color. In addition to enjoying the country charm of the papercuts, readers may try their own hand at papercutting by following the instructions given in the last section of the book.