What is seal cutting?

Seal cutting is a unique traditional art with a long history of two or three thousand years. Seal cutting, as the name implies, is a seal carved with seal script, and it is a practical work of art, also called "seal", "seal" or "seal". These names vary from time to time. As early as Shang Dynasty, people used knives to carve characters on tortoise shells (that is, what we now call Oracle Bone Inscriptions). These characters have sharp blades, beautiful brushwork and high level of "lettering". Before the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period and the Qin Dynasty, seal cutting was called "seal". After Qin Shihuang unified the six countries, it was stipulated that the "seal" was used exclusively by the emperor, and the seals used by ministers and people were collectively called "seal". This led emperors to use seals or treasures, officials to use seals, generals to use seals and private users to use seals.

The word "seal" in seal cutting was written as "Zhen" in ancient times, next to the word jade. All the concave and convex patterns carved on jade are called "truth". Later, bamboo and silk became popular writing tools, so the shape of seal script was changed from "jade" to "bamboo". In fact, in ancient times, anything that belongs to jade carving, stone carving, bamboo carving and bronze carving can be called "seal cutting", and seal cutting is only a small part of it. When he arrived at Qin Shihuang, he comprehensively sorted out the national calligraphy styles, which were divided into eight styles. The words on the printing surface were called "copying and printing"; When Wang Mang decided to write six books, he called it "Miao Zhuan", and from then on, he clearly determined that Zhuan Shu was the font used for seal cutting. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, due to the preferences of literati, although the seal system was changed, it was still printed with seal script. It was not until the Ming and Qing Dynasties that a large number of Indian people came out that seal cutting became an art form based on seal script, expressing density and separation on the printing surface by carving, and seal cutting also changed from carving in a broad sense to the knowledge of printing in a narrow sense. Some people directly refer to this knowledge of printing as "engraving", "iron pen", "iron book" and "engraving stamp".

The history of seal cutting

Since its origin, seal cutting has experienced more than ten dynasties in the long history of more than two thousand years. In this long-term development process, seal cutting has experienced two highly developed historical stages. One is the Warring States, Qin, Han, Wei, Jin and Six Dynasties. During this period, the materials used in seal cutting were mainly jade, gold, teeth and horns. Known as the "ancient seal cutting period", its seal cutting characteristics are mainly bounded by the times. Seal cutting reached the Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties, but it was in decline. During this period, due to the application of regular script instead of seal script and the separation of official seal and private seal, seal cutting went downhill. This situation took a turn for the better in the late Yuan Dynasty, when the painter Wang Mian discovered that the flower milk stone could be printed, thus making it an ideal material for printing. In the Ming Dynasty, seal cutting entered a renaissance period. Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, seal cutting has ushered in the second peak of development, and its seal cutting features are mainly various schools. During this period, Wen Peng and He Zhen played an important role in seal cutting creation. Wen Zhiming's son, Wen Peng, accidentally discovered that "smooth stone" frozen stone can be used as printing material. After his advocacy, stones were widely used. During this period, seal cutting schools emerged constantly, and seal cutting artists such as Cheng Sui, Ding Jing, Deng, Zhao and so on appeared. Seal cutting once presented a prosperous scene. It was not until Wu Changshuo and Qi Baishi, the modern masters of seal cutting, that a complete history of seal cutting in China was formed. Seal cutting is a perfect combination of calligraphy, composition and knife cutting. On the one hand, there are magnificent and elegant calligraphy strokes, beautiful painting composition and vivid knife cutting and carving charm. It can be described as "between square inches, there are thousands of weather."

With the extension of time and the development of spatial differences, China's words contain moving and diverse styles, which are presented in a sentimental and elegant way in the printed surface. A small square inch is full of simplicity of time and richness of space. Although it has undergone several changes, it is still fascinating with its warm luster and quaint charm. This is seal cutting.

Before we play, we must first make clear the definition of seal cutting. What is seal cutting? Its interpretation can be broad or narrow. The "seal" of seal cutting is jade, and the ancient writing is "truth". Judging from the annotation of Shuowen, it is interpreted as "the tortoise is a sign, and it is also true." ), all the concave and convex patterns carved on jade are called "Zhu". Later, bamboo and silk became a popular writing tool, so the symbol of seal script was changed from "jade" to "bamboo".

The origin of seal cutting is very early. According to "Han Ji Zhi", "There have been books since the Five Emperors. As for the Three Kings, there are seals before the customs of engraving, cheating and forgery to detect traitors."

As early as 3,700 years ago in Shang Dynasty, lettering became popular. However, there are no original characters on the surface of the seal, only symbols symbolizing blood type are attached to contemporary bronzes or flags. Although it is a mark, it does have a certain pronunciation. In the Zhou Dynasty, "Zhou Xi" based on bronze rose greatly. There are various sizes and shapes, generally divided into two types: Bai Wen and Zhu Wen. The Qin Dynasty witnessed the evolution of China characters from "Shu Shu" to seal script. The forms of seal script were more extensive, the seal script was round and vigorous, and the strokes were tall and straight.

The seal of the Han Dynasty reached its peak, which was called Han seal in history, and the font evolved from Xiao seal to Miao seal. Chinese and Indian printing systems and buttons are also exquisite. Xi Gang of the Eight Schools of Xiling once said: "India is the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, such as the poems of the Tang Dynasty and the characters and literature of the Jin Dynasty." During the Tang and Song Dynasties, due to the preference of the literati, although the seal script system was changed, it was still printed with seal script. It was not until the Ming and Qing Dynasties that seal cutting became an art form based on seal script with a large number of Indian people, and the density and clutch were expressed on the surface in an instant by carving. Therefore, seal cutting has changed from carving in a broad sense to management seal in a narrow sense.

Traditionally, seal cutting must be carried out before seal cutting, and there is even a saying that seal cutting is divided into three parts. Seal cutting itself is an art closely combined with calligraphy. The fundamental difference between seal engravers' works and seals carved by seal engravers is that the former is "written" and pays attention to rules and seal techniques, while the latter is "painted" and doesn't care about rules and seal techniques. If you don't learn seal cutting and don't pay attention to rules, the carved seal will be very stiff. Therefore, when learning seal cutting, we must carefully choose the seal script tablet to paste and write. After a period of training, we will obviously feel the convenience of seal cutting. Many beginners often get twice the result with half the effort

Composition is the art of arranging a word or a group of words on the printing surface, which is complex and changeable, and it is really the most important link in seal cutting. If one side of the seal has a skillful knife method without a clever composition, there will be no masterpiece. In particular, the creation of complete sets and groups should be changed in all aspects, and it is necessary to show the author's composition skills. Therefore, when designing Yin Gao, it should be conceived repeatedly. At this point, the cautious creative attitude of Wu Changshuo, a master of seal cutting, is worth learning. Appropriate forms should be designed according to specific strokes, strokes, shapes and the relationship between words.