Arts

The Sui and Tang Dynasties

: The seals in a series of three were popular during the Wei and Jin Periods. The knobs on the top...

: Books of stone rubbings are calligraphy models used for imitation and practice when learning...

: The calligraphy of the Qing Dynasty can be generally divided into two periods.

In the Sui and Tang dynasties, great changes happened in the making and use of official seals and a new seal system was established. The former "official position seal" was altered into "government office seal" and the inscriptions were mainly written in simplified official script and carved in relief. The seal system of the Sui and Tang dynasties was the base for the coming generations and exerted lasting influence. Stagnating for a long period, private seals were revived a bit in the Tang Dynasty. New forms appeared such as writing inscriptions in regular script and adding decorative elements.

Seals

Seal-cutting is traditionally listed along with painting, calligraphy and poetry as one of the "four arts" expected of the accomplished scholar and a unique part of the Chinese cultural heritage.

Image Seals

Image Seals

Seals carved with images (xiaoxingyin) developed as an off-shoot from the art of character-cutting on seals. They bear likenesses of scenes in life or things in nature.
Red-Stained Stone

Red-Stained Stone

Jixueshi (literally, chicken-blood stone) is a precious stone found in China and is particularly good for making seals.
Tianhuang Stone

Tianhuang Stone

"Tianhuang" is the name of a kind of stone regarded as the most valuable of all stone sculpture materials in China.
Ink Paste for Seals

Ink Paste for Seals

The ink paste used for the imprinting of seals is called yinni in Chinese, which means literally "seal clay".
Pre-Qin Period

Pre-Qin Period

Chinese seals originated from the designs and inscriptions on the ancient utensils.
The Qin and Han Dynasties

The Qin and Han Dynasties

The Qin Dynasty promulgated the "Shu Tong Wen" decree standardizing written Chinese.
The Three Kingdoms to the Northern and Southern Dynasties

The Three Kingdoms to the Northern and Southern Dynasties

The official seal system of the Wei and Jin dynasties basically inherited the Qin and Han tradition but the quality of seals deteriorated and the characters inscribed are more casual.
The Song and Yuan Dynasties

The Song and Yuan Dynasties

Different from the vivid and loose style of the Sui and Tang dynasties, inscriptions on the official seals of the Song Dynasty were simple and orderly.
The Ming and Qing Dynasties

The Ming and Qing Dynasties

Literati seal-engraving started in the Ming Dynasty. During this period, much importance was attached to the aesthetic value of seals art with the rise of literati calligraphy and painting.