TheArtofPaper 　　ChenZijiangisapaper-cuttingexpertwhomIinterviewedformyarticleonChineseArt. 　　Paper-cuttingissomethingthathelearnedtodofromanearlyage. 　　"ItisaChinesefolkartwithalonghistory,"MrChentoldme,"PapercutsofanimalshavebeenfoundintombswhichdatebacktothetimeoftheNorthernandSouthernDynasty!"HeaddedthatbytheSouthernSongDynasty,paper-cuttinghadbecomeanimportantpartofeverydaylife."Ayoungfarmerwhowantedawifewouldlookatayoungwoman'spaper-cuttingskillsbeforemarryingher!"explainedMrChen,laughingatthelookofsurprise 　　onmyface. 　　MrChenwentontoexplainthattherearethreetypesofpapercutswhichpeoplestillmake 　　today:papercutsfordecoration,forreligiouspurposesandfordesignpatterns.Papercutsusedfordecorationareoftenseenonwindowsandgates. 　　Theyareusuallyputupduringholidaystobringgoodluck.Theyarealsousedonpresents.Apresentforparentswhosechildhasrecentlybeenbornmightshowapapercutofchildren,forexample.PapercutswhichshowtheChinesecharacterfordoublehappinessareoftenusedtocelebrateweddings. 　　Papercutsusedforreligiouspurposesareoftenfoundintemples.Theyarealsousedas 　　offeringstothedead.Peopletowhomthedeadpersonwasrelatedwouldmaketheseofferingsonspecialdaysandduringfestivals. 　　Thethirdkindofpapercutsarethoseusedtomakepatternsonclothing.Theyarealsosometimesusedtodecoratejewelleryboxes.Dragonsareverypopularpatternsforthese 　　designs.TheinterviewwasveryusefulasIgotalotofinterestinginformationformyarticle.Iwasalsoreadytotryoutpapercuttingformyself."Seeyounextweek,"IsaidasIwavedgoodbyetoMrChen.Iwasgoingtomeethimagainsothathecouldhelpmemakemyfirstpapercut!