Jing Jigui - Artist of Dai Painting "Tong" in Shuangjiang County, Lincang 

Jing Jigu (景继贵), possibly an alternative transliteration or record of Feng Jijin (俸继进), is a provincial-level representative inheritor of Dai (傣族) paper-cutting art, hailing from Gonghen Village (公很村), Mengmeng Town (勐勐镇), Shuangjiang County (双江县), Lincang City (临沧市), Yunnan Province (云南省).

Born in 1915, she is currently 110 years old, and has spent her life preserving the ancient craft of Dai paper-cutting. From a young age, she learned paper-cutting and needlework under her mother’s guidance. As a folk artist, her works are primarily used in religious ceremonies, especially during Dianfo (赕佛, Buddha-offering ceremonies) and the Water-Splashing Festival (泼水节), playing a vital role in the transmission of local Dai culture. Her paper-cutting employs both “cutting” (剪) and “engraving” (凿) techniques, with a rustic and natural style rich in ethnic characteristics.

I. Personal Background and Artistic Journey

• Ethnicity: Dai (傣族)

• Gender: Female

• Date of Birth: 1915 (Age 110)

• Hometown: Gonghen Village, Mengmeng Town, Shuangjiang County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province

Family Influence and Training

Feng Jijin’s artistry comes from family inheritance:

• Early Training: Learned paper-cutting and needlework from her mother, gaining exposure to traditional Dai women’s handicrafts.

• Skill Refinement: Decades of practice made her a renowned local folk artist.

• Professional Experience: Worked at a commune sewing factory, enriching her manual skills.

• Persistence: Amid societal changes that led to the disappearance of some folk arts, she alone maintained the ancestral craft using scissors and needlework.

Being a Buddhist-majority ethnic group, the Dai frequently decorate temples with paper-cutting and embroidery. This religious-cultural environment provided deep cultural roots for Feng Jijin’s artistic development.

II. Artistic Achievements and Style

While detailed records of specific works are limited, her achievements can be summarized based on Dai paper-cutting traditions and her local prominence.

Key Features and Techniques

Types and Uses

• Religious: Mainly for Dianfo ceremonies, decorating temples.

• Festivals: Especially for the Water-Splashing Festival, villages commission her for decorative works.

• Daily and Ritual Use: Templates for embroidery, door decorations, lanterns, flags, offerings, and Duisha Festival (堆沙节) decorations.

Note: Dai paper-cutting includes both cutting (freehand) and engraving (template-based). Feng Jijin mastered both.

III. Transmission and Contributions

Skill Transmission

• Teaching: Passed her skills to descendants (specific lineage not fully documented).

• Pattern Preservation: Maintained dozens of traditional patterns.

• Religious Dissemination: Works displayed in temples promote cultural transmission.

• Cultural Impact: As a respected folk artist, her works encourage the continuity of Dai traditions.

Heritage Protection

• Skill Preservation: Safeguarded core techniques and cultural significance.

• Exemplary Role: Serves as a model for local intangible cultural heritage (ICH) protection.

• Cultural Continuity: Integral to Shuangjiang County’s ICH preservation.

• Social Influence: Her dedication and artistry reinforce local cultural identity.

IV. Shuangjiang County’s ICH Context

• Heritage Projects: 132 ICH projects recognized at national, provincial, municipal, and county levels; 63 representative inheritors.

• Protection Measures: Promoting “ICH + Tourism” and “ICH + Industry” models.

• Transmission Activities: Workshops and exchange programs strengthen intergenerational skill transfer.

V. Dai Paper-Cutting: History and Cultural Value

Historical Background

• Origin: Began as ritual banners, later influenced by Buddhist and Central Plains culture.

• Age: Over 1,500 years, mainly in Dehong Dai areas.

• Cultural Role: Tied to Theravada Buddhism (南传上座部佛教); rituals ensure skill transmission.

• Evolution: From religious/funerary uses to modern decoration, souvenirs, and festival motifs.

Craft Process

Cultural Value

Dai paper-cutting was listed as national intangible cultural heritage on May 20, 2006, and as part of Chinese paper-cutting, included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2009).

Conclusion

Feng Jijin (俸继进) / Jing Jigu (景继贵), as a provincial inheritor of Dai paper-cutting from Shuangjiang County, Lincang City, has preserved and transmitted this ancient art. By safeguarding traditional patterns and passing her skills to descendants, she ensures that this intangible cultural heritage continues to thrive in contemporary society.