With a single sheet of red paper and a pair of scissors, a master paper-cutter can create a world: fish swimming among lotus flowers, double happiness characters for a wedding, or a twelve-inch dragon with every scale cut by hand. Chinese paper-cutting (jianzhi, 剪纸) is one of the oldest and most democratic folk arts — requiring no expensive materials, just patience and a steady hand. Meet the grandmothers who keep this tradition alive, and learn how a paper-cut makes an affordable, heartfelt gift.
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