Written by
Anthony
While seals have a long history, their appreciation as art began during the Song and Yuan dynasties.
Earlier seals were primarily utilitarian, marking the “Practical Seal Era,” while the Ming and Qing dynasties saw the rise of artistic seal engraving styles.
Seals were crafted from various materials like copper, jade, and stone, with different techniques used depending on the material.
Seals often featured intricate designs and inscriptions on their sides, called kuanshi, a tradition starting in the Ming dynasty, enhancing the seal’s artistic value.
Seal engraving involves three key techniques: Zhuan method, layout, and carving techniques.
The Zhuan method refers to understanding seal script and arranging characters properly on the seal face.
Layout focuses on balancing the composition of characters, considering spacing, density, and visual flow.
Carving techniques employ various knife methods like cutting and pushing, allowing for different effects in the engraved lines, such as precision or fluidity, creating a unique artistic expression in seal art.
Originating from Zhejiang, the Zhe School, also known as the Xiling School, became influential during the Ming and Qing dynasties, renowned for its artistic seal engraving.
Based in Anhui Province, the Hui School thrived in the Ming and Qing dynasties, showcasing a unique approach to seal carving in traditional Chinese art.
Emerging from Shanghai, the Hai School rose to prominence in the late Qing dynasty and the Republic of China, reflecting the evolving trends of modern seal engraving.
It is a traditional art combining calligraphy and carving to create seals, often using materials like stone, metal, ivory, and jade.
Seal engraving became an art form during the Song and Yuan dynasties, evolving from its practical use in earlier periods.
The three main techniques are 篆法 (Zhuanfa) for calligraphy, 章法 (Zhangfa) for layout, and 刀法 (Daofa) for carving.
“Yang Wen” (raised script) features protruding characters, while “Yin Wen” (recessed script) has carved-in characters on the seal.
It was recognized as a “Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO in October 2009.
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Hi there!
Just a quick heads-up — a helpful user named Volker let me know that some of the non-English content on this site may not be accurate.
This site is a one-person project I run part-time. I research and publish all the content myself, and the translations are currently done by machine (Google Translate). Balancing accuracy and accessibility across multiple languages is a real challenge.
If you spot any errors, I recommend switching to the English version using the button at the bottom left. I’ll continue working to improve the translations over time.
I truly appreciate your understanding. And if you have any suggestions, feel free to leave a comment — it means a lot to me.
— Anthony 2025.6.18
