|
A Ming Dynasty seal made of ox horn (5 x 5 x
5.5cm) |
Seal engraving is a unique art form of Chinese
characters. To trace the origin of Chinese seals, one has to relate it to the
discovery of the Chinese characters. The most ancient Chinese characters first
originated in the Yin Dynasty (i.e., the later period of the Shang Dynasty, from
16th-11th century BC) as inscriptions on animal bones or tortoise shells.
Inscriptions on ancient bronze objects appeared in the Zhou Dynasty
(11th century - 256BC).
According to records in the Zuo
Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, Xi (royal seal) engraving
had emerged in the mid Spring and Autumn Period. In the Warring States
(475-221BC), the difference between varied forms of Chinese characters in
different states was also reflected on the seals. The Qin Dynasty unified
Chinese characters with Xiaozhuan (seal script), so the official and
private seals handed down after the dynasty almost took seal script as their
calligraphy.
|
A Qing Dynasty seal (5.2 x 3.6 x
7.7cm) |
Seals in the Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty
featured diversified styles, and they were either vigorous, or firm and
unsophisticated. In the early years of the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-8AD),
False Seal Script that curved and winded and Bird-and-Insect Script that took
insects, fishes, birds and other animals as it shape were the most often seen
scripts on seals. In the Wei (220-265) and Jin (265-420) dynasties, the
Hanging-Needle Seal Script characterized by drooping upright strokes with a thin
tip came into being. Seals in the Warring States Period to the Tang (618-907)
and Song (960-1279) dynasties mostly had practical value, and were used as
credence or keepsake. After the Song and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, to meet the
demand of collection and appreciation of paintings and calligraphic works, some
literators seals mainly for appreciation, and various seal engraving styles
sprang to life. Great masters of seal engravings in the past generations
included Wen Peng, Ding Jing, He Zhen, Deng Shiru, Zhao Ziqian, Wu Changshuo,
and Qi Baishi, etc.
The materials used to make seals include
jade, copper, silver, ivory, ox horn, pear wood, bamboo root, stone and so on.
Seals made of stone are the ones we see the most
often.