The functions of Chinese folk art
Generally speaking, the function of folk art is to combine beauty and practicality, which not only meets the actual needs of people's daily life, but also beautifies the living environment, and also satisfies people's feelings, expressions of respect and love. and spiritual needs for entertainment. It is the perfect embodiment of the unity of beauty and function.
From the perspective of utensils in daily life, various utensils such as agricultural production tools, fishing, hunting and breeding tools, hand tools, catering and cooking utensils, and daily necessities have greatly facilitated people's clothing, food, housing and transportation. It has been beautified by the creator through painting, carving, dyeing, chiseling, weaving and other methods.
The relatively ancient bone-making technology is preserved in the Li area of Hainan Island. Bone tools are living utensils with distinctive regional and national characteristics. They were also another important invention of mankind after the invention of wooden tools and stone tools. , occupying an important position in prehistoric culture. The bone hairpins and bone combs among the Li nationality bone vessels are the most exquisite bone carvings among the bone vessels. The types of bone tools include bone shovels used for digging soil, weeding, ash removal, and tableware; bone knives used for harvesting rice from hills; scrapers used to remove rice from hills; weft knives used for textile looms; Bone shuttles for weaving fish nets; bone darts for stabbing fish; bone hairpins for hairdressing and hair fixation; bone combs for hair decoration; necklaces for decoration and evil spirits, etc.
Bowls, lamps, plates, spoons, chopsticks, tea and wine sets and other utensils in catering and cooking utensils; lamps, candles, pillows, hat tubes, vases, and mirror frames in daily necessities Objects large and small, such as cigarettes, fans, and heaters, are essential items in people's daily lives. Various folk utensils are simple and practical, and their shapes, paintings, carvings and other decorations are extremely friendly. They are also practical works of art that combine beauty and function.
In rural farmhouses, we can often see rustic, simple and lovely storage jars (some made of paper pulp with auspicious patterns painted on them), food boxes, pot boxes, smoking sets, food utensils and drinking utensils. Utensils, earthenware bowls, blue and white plates, spice boxes, jars, oil lamps, combs, agricultural tools with aesthetic shapes, etc. It can be said that people live in an atmosphere of art, and everywhere they look is full of simple beauty. Life is art, and art is life itself. The ubiquitous folk art cultivates people's temperament and cultivates the aesthetic vision of generations of Chinese people. The function of folk art mainly depends on where it is used and how it is used. The performance of each function has certain limitations, and this limitation stipulates the functional attribution of folk art. Folk art with ornamental and entertainment functions is the most popular item during the festival.
Ornamental folk art such as New Year pictures, paper-cutting, paper-cutting, lanterns, fan paintings, Kang screen paintings, screens, iron paintings, pyrography, painted clay sculptures, dough sculptures, decorative ornaments, and various decorative paintings , decorative pendants, etc., are often relatively pure fine arts that are designed for aesthetic and decorative purposes and to meet spiritual needs.
Arts in the entertainment, entertainment, and performance categories such as various traditional folk toys, shadow puppets, puppets, kites, diabolos, and windmills, including those used in martial arts and athletics, temple fairs and flower fairs, and street floats Props, equipment, musical instruments, decorations, etc. The characteristic of this type of art is that it requires human participation such as dancing, posting, hanging, wearing, etc. to reflect its functions. It is mainly used in rituals and entertainment activities such as performances and entertainment. In traditional society, in addition to the daily life of men farming and women weaving, crafts are the most common means of making a living. Mastering a craft means an additional way out of life, and it is also an affirmation of the value of life. Therefore, mastering a craft has become the most common requirement for men, while for women, the old saying "it takes skill to give birth to a woman" has been passed down from generation to generation. Qiao is an affirmation of women. In traditional society, Rong Yanhong's (work) morality has become a comprehensive measure of a woman's value. The women competed in flower cutting, weaving, embroidery, needlework, and dexterity. Qiao, also known as female beauty, is the most important aspect of a woman's handiwork. This is particularly prominent among the Miao, an ethnic minority without writing.
Anyone who has been to the Miao Village in southeastern Guizhou will be surprised by the beautiful embroidered clothing and silver ornaments of the Miao women.
The courtyard is the main place for Chinese families and family life, and it is also the space where people live; the bedroom is a more specific place for family life. These two environmental spaces, from large to small, show the different categories of Chinese folk life art and the background in which they live. Folk art with the function of decoration and beautification exists in courtyards and indoor furnishings.
Courtyard construction is an art of modeling and structure, which includes the arrangement, combination, decoration and beautification of various building components. Such as cornices and brackets, tiles, gate towers, plaques, brick carvings, door drums, door decorations, screen walls, screen walls, Feng Shui towers, shrines, flower walls, flower windows, lintels, etc., horse-mounting stones, horse-tethering posts, door squatting lions, and others in the courtyard Carving decoration, etc.
Among the indoor furnishings, the furnishings in the main hall focus on conceptual expression and decoration. They are works of art that satisfy "spiritual practicality" and are mainly ornamental art forms, mostly furnishings. Commonly seen are various carved wood products, stone shrines, antique heaven and earth tables (also called Eight Immortals tables), and ancient furniture. They are simple and elegant and have architectural beauty. Every New Year's Eve, the atmosphere here is also the most solemn. Using New Year pictures, paper-cutting, and other art forms to decorate the New Year atmosphere is one of the important contents of indoor decoration.
Auspicious paintings such as "Songs and Cranes Prolong Years" and "Eight Immortals Celebrating Birthdays" are often hung above the altar table in the middle hall. Table skirts and door curtains are usually made of embroidery, blue calico, batik, brocade and other handmade works, with auspicious patterns embroidered or painted on them. The antique cabinets, lamps, tables, screens, etc. continue the traditional shapes, colors and decorative patterns, and still exist in large numbers among the people today.