Creating traditional paper art by tearing

Zhang Jie, who was born in a Manchu village in Jilin province, has created a special art -- paper tearing through years of traditional paper cutting experience.

He explained that paper tearing originates from traditional Manchu cutting and both art forms share the same invention design.

Zhang Jie teaches students paper tearing at the workshop in the primary school. [Photo/Xinhua]

The only difference lies in the working efforts. The cutting ones have smooth edges and the tearing ones look more natural, which showcases the paper cutting features of Northeast China in a better way -- simple and close to nature.

Zhang used to be an art teacher at the Central Primary School of Kuaidamao Town, Tonghua. Although he has been transferred to work in Tonghua Normal University, he still returns to that elementary school when he has free time and teach students paper tearing.

Zhang and his students made a large paper tearing artwork to celebrate the Year of the Dog. [Photo/Xinhua]