5. Lin Bangdong, artisan of Yueqing thin-line paper-cuts
Arguably the finest and most exquisite paper-cut style in China, Yueqing thin-line paper-cuts in East China's Zhejiang province date back some 700 years, first appearing as decorations on the dragon boat lanterns during the local Lantern Festival celebrations in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).
Lin Bangdong, a Yueqing native born in 1926, started to learn this craft at 13. Lin was recognized as the national inheritor of this intangible cultural heritage not only for his sophisticated skills but for his innovative spirit that gave birth to a fair number of artworks featuring both impressive craftsmanship and compelling aesthetic beauty. Furthermore, many of Lin's masterpieces are now in the collection of the Zhejiang Provincial Museum.
Click here to learn about the paper-cut master's story.
