Xiaozhuan (lesser seal script), also called Qinzhuan, is a calligraphy developed from Dazhuan (greater seal script). It emerged in the Qin State in the late Warring States Period (475-221BC), and was prevalent in the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC) and early Western Han Dynasty (206BC-8AD).

"Qinzhuan" calligraphy on stone

Cultural relics of the Qin Dynasty unearthed show that Xiaozhuan was gradually involved from Dazhuan, and the two do not have clear demarcation of time periods. Some characters of Dazhuan were comparatively complicated and difficult to write, characters became more simplified starting from the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC), and the pace of simplification obviously picked up. Persons like Li Si, the Minister of Qin Emperor Shihuang, simply collected and arranged the characters of Xiaozhuan, set Xiaozhuan as a standard calligraphy and popularized it in the whole society.

Examples of Xiaozhuan of this period are Taishan Keshi (stone inscription on the Mount Tai) and Langyatai Keshi (stone inscription on Langya Terrace). Elucidations of the Signs and Explications of the Graphs, compiled by Xu Shen, included 9,353 Xiaozhuan characters. Though Xiaozhuan did not emerge early, it boasts a large number, plays a special role in the development history of Chinese characters and is the bridge between ancient characters and modern characters.