The art of cutting paper silhouettes for use as decorations at the New Year has been practiced in China for many centuries, beginning as early as 1,000 A.D. Before 1900, in Northern China where windows were made of oiled paper, paper cuts called 'window flowers' were glued to these paper windows for decoration. As glass windows became available, paper cuts continued to be used as patterns for embroidery and at festivals. The subjects portrayed in paper cuts reflect the fact that 80% of the Chinese population lives in rural areas in close contact with nature. Birds, animals, insects, and plants are popular subjects. The designs are cut by hand, using either scissors or small, sharp knives. They may be cut free hand or from a preliminary sketch. Several layers of paper are cut simultaneously. Traditionally, four layers were cut. However, it is possible to cut through as many as 60 layers, depending on the delicacy of the design.
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