Practical Chinese Reader vol.4

The folksongs and papercuts of the loess plateau in northern Shaanxi Province are manifestations of ancient dreams and actual events in one of the oldest areas of China. This book presents some of the best examples of original papercut designs, each accompanied by a selection from the folksong that inspired it and a musical score. In addition, the complete lyrics of each folksongs as it was original sung, and a full translation are provided. Background Information: Folksongs: Folksongs of northern Shaanxi have been passed down and sung by people through hundreds of years in an area where people inhabited caves excavated in the mountains and lived by subsistence farming. Men cultivated land, herded sheep and cattle or went to work in the west regions to eke out a living. Women spent their lives in the cave dwellings, taking care of their husbands and bringing up children. In this environment, men could?t help singing what they heard, saw and thought; women chanted their joys and sorrows as they sat sewing under dim oil lamps. An important contribution to the vitality of northern Shaanxi folksongs is that their lyrics and melodies are all improvised, their composers and singers all local people. The songs tell stories of an inner world and real life in simple spoken language, with sincere heartfelt emotions and lively rhythms. The themes cover a wide range of subjects including social inequality and the cruelty of war, but many of the best-known folksongs are love songs. Papercuts: One of the most popular folk art forms of China, papercuts have been created throughout the ages by skilled hands using various styles influenced by different life experiences, and each expresses similar subjects and themes in varying ways. The papercuts of northern Shaanxi are the most famous, characterised by their bold and vigorous style and lively appearance, with no particular conformity in pattern. They are made using scissors only. Images seen today feature domestic animals, auspicious wishes, fertility symbols, local customs and folk tales.