民间剪纸是一种在纸上剪出来的画。人们将剪好的图案贴在门楣、窗面、灯笼等上面，以表达喜悦感情及生活感受，因此剪纸又称为"剪花"和"窗花"。剪纸图案多取材于人物、动物、场景、喜庆节令、五谷丰登、民间戏曲、故事等，既美观又富情趣，在中国民间广为流传。剪纸艺术最早可追溯到南北朝时期，与中国的造纸术同时出现，至今仍兴盛于中国大江南北。南方的纤巧秀逸，北方的浑厚苍劲。使剪纸艺术成为中华民族艺术宝库中一朵绚烂的奇葩。亦是收藏界一个重要组成部分。 Paper-cut Paper-cut is a picture cut out on a paper with scissors.The picture patterns are often pasted on the door header,windows,or lanterns to express the feelings of joy and the perceptions in life.Hence the scissors-cut is also known as "scissors-picture"or"paper-cut for window decoration".The patterns are often designed form events in the jubilant festivals,bumper harvest of the cereals,stories of the folk opera,people or animals ,and others. They are very beautiful and interesting ,and are widely popular among Chinese people. The art of paper-cut may be traced back to a period as early as the ancient South and North Dynasties.It appeared at the same time of discovery of Chinese papermaking and is still prosperous across China.The paper-cut of the south is delicate and beautiful,and those of the north are robust and energetic.The paper-cut art has become one of the magnificent and beautiful flowers in the Chinese national artistic treasures. 剪纸是中国最为流行的民间艺术之一，根据考古其历史可追溯到公元六世纪，但人们认为它的实际开始时间比这还要早几百年。剪纸常用于宗教仪式，装饰和造型艺术等方面。