Seal cutting (art)
Encyclopedia
Seal cutting, or Zhuanke (Chinese
/Japanese
: 篆刻), is a kind of traditional art that originated in China, and later spread to East Asia. It refers to cutting a pattern into the bottom of the seal (the active surface, used for stamping), rather than the sides or top.
, seals started being used in the governmental systems, and they represented the authority and power. During Shang and Zhou Dynasties, the material of making a seal was mainly the animal bones, copper (bronze) and pottery, and there were special trained, sophisticated artisans or craftsmen, including potters majored in this work - making seals. Because seals in this period were mainly used in governments and mainly by nobles and officials, the style of seals should be very formal and beautiful. In Shang Dynasty, the oracle bone script
(chin: 甲骨文) was used, and during Zhou period, various scripts (because the Chinese characters were still not unified then) but mainly Dazhuan (chin: 大篆) or Jinwen (chin: 金文) were used.
In Qin Dynasty, the more regular and formal seal script
called Xiaozhuang (chin: 小篆) was formalized by the Chancellor Li Si
and was announced by the Emperor Qinshihuang, thus the written scrip of Chinese characters was first unified. Due to the development of the Chinese architecture, seals in this period also were widely used in materials of buildings, e.g. after finishing of a tile or a brick, the maker normally stampped his seal on the surface, and this case can be found on the antiques of this period, and such seals aside of indicating producers' names, time or places, they already have various styles, reflects the personal characteristics of the manufactures.
In Song Dynasty
, the scholar-artist rose and making seals became popular. Since this era, soap stones have been widely used in seal cutting. Stones from Qingtian, currently Zhejiang Province are named Qingtian Seal-stone (chin: 青田印石); and the soap stones named Shoushan Seal-stone (chin: 壽山印石) from Fujian
were also widely used. Some artists became majored in this kind of art, creating numerous schools of styles. Also during period, seals started being used in the work of painting and calligraphy.
In Yuan Dynasty
, the seal cutting was already a very mature art. Ming Dynasty
and Qing Dynasty
were two golden period for the arts of seal cutting. In Qing Dynasty, the soap stones from Mongolia
named Balin Seal-stone (chin: 巴林印石) began to use. Nowadays, a work of Chinese painting or calligaphy normally has its seal(s).
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
/Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
: 篆刻), is a kind of traditional art that originated in China, and later spread to East Asia. It refers to cutting a pattern into the bottom of the seal (the active surface, used for stamping), rather than the sides or top.
History
In Shang DynastyShang Dynasty
The Shang Dynasty or Yin Dynasty was, according to traditional sources, the second Chinese dynasty, after the Xia. They ruled in the northeastern regions of the area known as "China proper" in the Yellow River valley...
, seals started being used in the governmental systems, and they represented the authority and power. During Shang and Zhou Dynasties, the material of making a seal was mainly the animal bones, copper (bronze) and pottery, and there were special trained, sophisticated artisans or craftsmen, including potters majored in this work - making seals. Because seals in this period were mainly used in governments and mainly by nobles and officials, the style of seals should be very formal and beautiful. In Shang Dynasty, the oracle bone script
Oracle bone script
Oracle bone script refers to incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones, which are animal bones or turtle shells used in divination in Bronze Age China...
(chin: 甲骨文) was used, and during Zhou period, various scripts (because the Chinese characters were still not unified then) but mainly Dazhuan (chin: 大篆) or Jinwen (chin: 金文) were used.
In Qin Dynasty, the more regular and formal seal script
Seal script
Seal script is an ancient style of Chinese calligraphy. It evolved organically out of the Zhōu dynasty script , arising in the Warring State of Qin...
called Xiaozhuang (chin: 小篆) was formalized by the Chancellor Li Si
Li Si
Li Si was the influential Prime Minister of the feudal state and later of the dynasty of Qin, between 246 BC and 208 BC. A famous Legalist, he was also a notable calligrapher. Li Si served under two rulers: Qin Shi Huang, king of Qin and later First Emperor of China—and his son, Qin Er Shi...
and was announced by the Emperor Qinshihuang, thus the written scrip of Chinese characters was first unified. Due to the development of the Chinese architecture, seals in this period also were widely used in materials of buildings, e.g. after finishing of a tile or a brick, the maker normally stampped his seal on the surface, and this case can be found on the antiques of this period, and such seals aside of indicating producers' names, time or places, they already have various styles, reflects the personal characteristics of the manufactures.
In Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
, the scholar-artist rose and making seals became popular. Since this era, soap stones have been widely used in seal cutting. Stones from Qingtian, currently Zhejiang Province are named Qingtian Seal-stone (chin: 青田印石); and the soap stones named Shoushan Seal-stone (chin: 壽山印石) from Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
were also widely used. Some artists became majored in this kind of art, creating numerous schools of styles. Also during period, seals started being used in the work of painting and calligraphy.
In Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
, the seal cutting was already a very mature art. Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
and Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
were two golden period for the arts of seal cutting. In Qing Dynasty, the soap stones from Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
named Balin Seal-stone (chin: 巴林印石) began to use. Nowadays, a work of Chinese painting or calligaphy normally has its seal(s).
Important Schools
In China:- Zhejiang School of Seal Cutting (Zhe School or Zhe for short)
- Became dominant in Ming and Qing Dynasties.
- Anhui School of Seal Cutting (Hui School or Hui for short)
- Became dominant in Ming and Qing Dynasties.
- Shanghai School of Seal Cutting (Hai School for short)
- Became dominant in late Qing Dynasty and Republic of ChinaRepublic of ChinaThe Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
period.
- Became dominant in late Qing Dynasty and Republic of China
Notable Artists
In China:- Qi BaishiQi BaishiQi Baishi was an influential Chinese painter.Born to a peasant family from Xiangtan, Hunan, Qi became a carpenter at 14, and learned to paint by himself. After he turned 40, he traveled, visiting various scenic spots in China...
- Sha MenghaiSha MenghaiSha Menghai , born Shi Wenruo , was a great master of calligraphy in China. He is widely regarded as the top one of Chinese modern art of calligraphy. He also was a master of Chinese seal carving , a theoretician of traditional Chinese art, and a master of Shanghai School art. Sha Wenhan is his...
(Hai School) - Xu WeiXu WeiXu Wei was a Ming Chinese painter, poet and dramatist famed for his artistic expressiveness. Revolutionary for its time, his painting style influenced and inspired countless subsequent painters, such as Bada Shanren, the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou, and the modern masters Wu Changshuo and Qi...
(Zhe School) - Wu ChangshuoWu ChangshuoWú Chāngshuò is the name for which Wu Junqing is best known. He was born in Zhejiang from a scholarly family and for a time toward the end of the Qing he served as an official in Liaoning. He settled in Suzhou in his twenties.Initially, he devoted himself to poetry and calligraphy with a strong...
(Hai School & Zhe School)
See also
- Seal (East Asia): Seal art of East Asia in general.
- Seal sculpture (art)Seal sculpture (art)Seal sculpture , is a kind of seal arts originated from ancient China and mainly popular in East Asian countries. It focuses or decorates on the head-part or the top-side of a seal. It's a kind of sculpture or mini-sculpture.-Other possible names:...
: Seal art focusing on the head of a seal. - Seal engraving (art)Seal engraving (art)Seal engraving , or more precisely, the side-engraving of seal, is a kind of traditional seal arts originated from ancient China and mainly popular in East Asian countries, including South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc.. It mainly focuses on the side-surfaces of a seal, not the bottom or...
: Seal art focusing on the vertical-sides of a seal. - Xiling Society of Seal ArtsXiling Society of Seal ArtsXiling Society of Seal Arts , or Xiling Seal Society, is an academic society of seal arts located in Hangzhou, China. Xiling was the first academic society of seal-related learnings and arts, and currently the largest.-Other names of the society:...