After the invention of paper by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty in China, Jiǎn zhǐ or 剪纸 is a traditional style of paper-cutting typical of China. Jian zhi has been practiced in China since at least the sixth century AD . Depending on the type of targets, Jian zhi creates reasons in favor of health, prosperity or simple decoration . Red is the color most commonly used. Mostly used are ideograms symbolizing the Chinese zodiac animals. Although the art of paper cutting is popular all over the world, only the Chinese Paper Cutting has been included in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in UNESCO 2009. The chinese paper cutting has been recognized as superior because it has a history of more than 1500 years and represents the cultural values of the Chinese people both North and South.
