What does a calligrapher's seal look like?

If I understand correctly, does the so-called "calligrapher's seal" refer to calligraphy works, signatures and seals?

First, the artistic function of the seal

The seal was originally a token, which played the role of verification. After the Song and Yuan Dynasties, calligraphers gradually realized the artistic function of seals and attached importance to them in their calligraphy works, which led to the emergence of the art of combining book and seal. Books and seals set each other off and become interesting, which not only adds color to calligraphy works, enlivens the atmosphere and plays the role of "icing on the cake", but also adjusts the center of gravity, makes up for the lack of layout and plays a stable and balanced role in works.

Calligraphy works are signed and sealed to show solemnity and prevent forgery; Covered with elegant and meaningful leisure chapters, you can also pin your ambitions and interests in the book. Therefore, calligraphers have always attached great importance to the use of seals, even their own seal cutting, so that the combination of seals and books has a more beautiful and stronger artistic appeal.

Second, several kinds of seals commonly used in calligraphy works (types and uses of seals)

(1) name stamp

The name stamp is the signature stamp of the inscription. Some names are linked together, while others are separated. The inscription is stamped with the word "one surname" as positive, and a surname can also be used. The name of the printed paragraph; The word, and then use the name stamp. If money has a surname, you can use a name stamp. If money has no surname or no signature, you should use a name stamp to identify the author.

Seal knowledge and common problems in calligraphy works (the use and types of attached seal, the maintenance of inkpad, etc. )

This is Mr. Qi Gong's calligraphy work. You can see the name and seal of the old gentleman.

The ancients used chapters and paid attention to etiquette; Anyone who is humble and young should be honored by books and should use a name seal; Words and seals used between peers; If the elders want to give it to the humble and young, they can use another stamp. On the contrary, it is ridiculous and generous. Zhang Daqian, a modern painter, believes that the shape of the name stamp is "square is the best, round is ok, and the waist is naturally not."

Famous seals are generally divided into Zhu Wen (Yang Wen) and Bai Wen (Yin Wen). When a calligraphy work is stamped with two seals, it is best to have one Zhu and one white, and the two seals are appropriate in size. When multiple chapters are used at the end of a paragraph, the order is that the name chapter comes first, and the words and numbers chapter comes last.

Seal knowledge and common problems in calligraphy works (the use and types of attached seal, the maintenance of inkpad, etc. )

In this picture, the upper part is in Yang and the lower part is in Yin. The so-called positive text means that the text protrudes on the stone, while the negative text is the opposite.

(2) Idle chapter

Leisure articles are also called layout articles, including introduction articles, border articles, corner articles and waist articles.

Seal knowledge and common problems in calligraphy works (the use and types of attached seal, the maintenance of inkpad, etc. )

The seals shown in the above picture are all idle.

1. Introduction

The first chapter is a chapter printed in the upper right corner of calligraphy works, also known as "conformal chapter", which is carved out of the shape of stone. Generally, it should not be square, but translucent, rectangular, circular, semi-circular, conformal gourd-shaped, natural and shaw-shaped. Whether to quote the first chapter of calligraphy works depends on the need. If the first paragraph is too neat, it needs to be "deformed"; The seal at the end of the paragraph is too heavy and needs to be "upgraded"; The distribution of seals on the works is monotonous and needs to be "adjusted". At this time, we should consider the first chapter.

Seal knowledge and common problems in calligraphy works (the use and types of attached seal, the maintenance of inkpad, etc. )

Introduction chapter for Mr. Qi Gong's calligraphy works.

Prefaces in calligraphy works can be divided into the following categories according to their contents:

(1) The seal of the house number began with the imperial seal of Li Biduan's bedroom in the Tang Dynasty. After the Song and Yuan Dynasties, this trend became more and more popular, and almost everyone in calligraphers had the seal of fasting. Wen Zhiming, a calligrapher in the Ming Dynasty, said, "Many of my bookstores are printed." Zhai Hao is usually called Zhai, Tang, Shi, Lou, Ge, Guan, Xuan, An and so on. , such as Zhai, Tang, Shi, Lou, Ting, Lai Qin Ting, Yu Shang Xuan, An Le Tian and so on.

(2) Elegant essays, that is, ancient auspicious words and phrases, are rich in meaning and gentle, or compile philosophical and thought-provoking idioms and aphorisms, or record your hobbies and ambitions. There are many elegant chapters that encourage people to learn, such as "cutting", "learning from others", "liking books", "being diligent", "learning from the past", "learning from others", "enjoying reading", "being eager to learn makes people understand" and "getting it by accident over time". Those who express their feelings, such as relying on morality, being clear-minded, having fun, having fun in hardships, cherishing shade, being willing to be a scalper, being pure and ice-clear, being indifferent to nature, being square and so on. There are also expressions of pen and ink interest, splashing ink, using a pen, fragrant fields, spiritual interest, hiding from people, clinging, pursuing with hands, and working in inkstone fields. Some people wish good luck, such as "Wish", "Changle", "Beauty is not old", "Lucky Day", "Longevity" and "Eternal Life".

(3) The year stamp is used to record the year of calligraphy works, such as Jia Zi, Yi Chou, Bing Yin or 1989, 1990, 1980, 1990.

(4) The month stamp is used to record the month order of calligraphy works, such as last spring, such as the moon and silkworm moon.

2. Edge sealing

Edge-blocking seal refers to a seal covering one side of a calligraphy work, which plays the role of edge-blocking and gas gathering.

3. Corner sealing

A seal on the corner of a calligraphy work is called a corner seal. Take the one in the upper right corner as the "response" and the two corners as the "betting angle". Stop the side chapter and take only one side; Corner sealing can control both sides, and it plays the role of "blocking edges and sealing corners", "supplementing emptiness" and adjusting and stabilizing the picture near the corners.

Step 4: waist sealing

Long calligraphy works, such as banners, can only be stamped with an introductory stamp on the upper right, so that there is a gap in the middle. They can be stamped with a waist stamp, and the content is mostly the calligrapher's native place, or they can be printed in a Xiao shape by the calligrapher's zodiac. The middle chapter is smaller than the first chapter and the famous chapter at the end of the paragraph, and the three chapters cannot be covered by a straight line.

The leisure chapter mentioned above is actually not "idle". If printed properly, the clock can not only play the role of pen and ink, but also play a role that pen and ink can not play. As Pan Tianshou, a modern painter, said, "Opening a chapter, pressing a corner chapter and a famous chapter can play the role of making the color changes on the screen echo, breaking the flat plate and stabilizing the balance."

(3) Collecting seals

Collection identification stamp is a kind of stamp for appreciation collectors. According to records, the seal collection also began in the Tang Dynasty and prevailed after the Song Dynasty. Tang Taizong wrote the word "Zhenguan" with Lian Zhuyin, and Tang Xuanzong wrote the word "Kaiyuan" with Lian Zhuyin, both of which were royal Tibetan calligraphy and painting. Later collections have many names, such as collection, keeping secrets, examination and approval, appreciation and reading. The seal for collection should be based on the size of the calligraphy and painting to avoid damaging the calligraphy and painting. For the sake of their immortality, some collectors often destroy the map when they stamp it, so be careful.

Seal knowledge and common problems in calligraphy works (the use and types of attached seal, the maintenance of inkpad, etc. )

The picture above shows Huang Tingjian's Flower Fragrance Sticker, which has many seals.

3. What should I pay attention to when stamping calligraphy works?

The seal on calligraphy works is not stamped at will, but has certain rules. Improper stamping will not only add icing on the cake, but will be self-defeating and destroy the artistic effect of the whole work. Therefore, how to seal it needs to be taken seriously and carefully considered. Usually you can grasp the following points:

1. Suitable size

The size of the seal should match the size of the work and be equal to the inscription. It can be smaller, but not larger than the inscription. If the words are small and the paper is tight, you can use small joint beads to show consideration. When using two seals of different sizes in a work, in order to stabilize and avoid the shortcomings of top-heaviness, the seal at the top should be small and the seal at the bottom should be large. If several people cooperate, their seals should be the same size.

2. The quantity should be small.

Number of seals, ancient singular. There is a seal "use one without two, use three without four, and cover an odd number, which means supporting yang and suppressing yin." The number of prints should not be too much, too much will be messy and even usurp the host's role. If a work has several printing methods, it is necessary to choose different printing methods to avoid similarities.

Be in the right place

When printing, pay attention to the position. There is always truth, falsehood and density in a work. The secret place is not compact enough and can be filled with a seal; If the sparse place feels empty, it can be enriched by seals, just like moving a small "weight" to make the picture balanced and ironed. The name at the end of the paragraph and the position of the font size stamp should be arranged accurately If there is a space under the title, put it under the department; If there is no blank, it should be left instead of right. The sealing at the end of the paragraph should be kept at an appropriate interval to avoid crowding and looseness. A work uses preface and corner seal at the same time, so avoid putting it aside. The corner pressing chapter should be placed in the lower left corner, diagonal to the leading chapter.

Step 4 weigh the weight

As far as printing color is concerned, ink is lighter and white is heavier. For works with elegant ink color, Zhu should be used to maintain the harmony between the two; The works with strong ink color should be printed in white, so that the red ink color and the black ink color form a strong contrast, which makes each other interesting. If a work is printed several times, the printing colors should be clearly defined, that is, less ink and more white, less ink and more white, which is both diverse and coordinated.

Consistent style

The style of the seal should be in harmony with the style and style of the work. For example, neat and beautiful lower case works should not be stamped with straightforward and urgent seals, and bold and vigorous calligraphy works should not be stamped with exquisite iron seals, otherwise it will be out of place and directly affect the artistic effect of calligraphy works. When using the leisure seal, we should not only pay attention to the integration of its content and the text of the work, but also keep the harmony between the content and style of the seal. For example, the seal of "the country's rivers and mountains" should not be carved piece by piece, and the seal of "a generation of heroes" should not be carved slender and powerless. And so on.

Four, the use and maintenance of calligraphy and painting inkpad

A beautiful seal, if there is no fine, thick and smooth inkpad, can not fully show its charm, the effect will be greatly reduced. Generally speaking, most Chinese characters are printed in crimson ink. Most of the fine print is inked with cinnabar. Especially the black background of the copybook, be sure to use vermilion ink. (ps: At present, the best inkpad in China should be the inkpad of Xiling Printing Factory. You can check the Xiling printing house, and the price is not cheap. Generally, it is 200-300 yuan, so you can buy cheaper inkpad for your own use. For example, the inkpad of Yantian Academy and a box of 30 yuan. )

Seal knowledge and common problems in calligraphy works (the use and types of attached seal, the maintenance of inkpad, etc. )

Zhu calligraphy inkstone (picture from Yantian Academy)

Since the Qing dynasty, the red color has been aggravated, and even ancient inkpad has been used to achieve quaint effect and make it profound and dignified. More exquisite, cover it once to avoid being too light, and cover it again to increase the thickness. Of course, we need to pay attention to each other, and this can only be done with the help of Yin Gui. When printing, rubber or other soft materials can be used as the bottom cushion, but not too soft and easy to be imprinted. When Qi Ming seals a book, he usually takes a book, opens a few pages and seals it. Because some books may have thick covers, it is difficult to press them down when sealing, so I will seal them after turning a few pages, which is the best!

Seal knowledge and common problems in calligraphy works (the use and types of attached seal, the maintenance of inkpad, etc. )

Xiling Printing House Ink Printing Exhibition

The ink is made of cinnabar, grease and moxa. Cinnabar is heavy, but oil is light. If they are not reconciled for a long time, they will separate, cinnabar will sink, oil will float to the surface, and even stick and deteriorate, making it difficult to use. Therefore, every once in a while, the inkpad should be stirred with a paddle made of bones (not metal products) to make the three mix evenly. Stir in the same direction, don't go back and forth.

Seal knowledge and common problems in calligraphy works (the use and types of attached seal, the maintenance of inkpad, etc. )

Ink should always be kept clean. Before the seal is dipped in mud, it should be wiped clean; Especially for newly made lithographs, attention should be paid to removing the stone chips in the pen diameter to avoid polluting the inkpad. When dipping in the mud, do not use too much force, and do not press the center of the inkpad violently. You can dip it several times along the inkpad line by pushing and pulling, so that the inkpad can be evenly stained on the printing surface. When the cover is hot-stamped, it should be pressed straight and evenly, and it should not be shaken or concentrated on one side or corner. This bronzing effect will be ideal.

In addition, if you want to know what kind of stone to use for the next seal or want to have your own seal in the future, you can read this article "What kind of stone to use for seals (six kinds of stones suitable for calligraphy seal cutting)"

5. How to use the seal in hard pen calligraphy?

Today, the traditional brush calligraphy has formed a complete set of rules and regulations for the use of seals. Books and seals have been harmoniously unified, and seals have become an indispensable part of traditional calligraphy.

Then, how to use the seal in hard pen calligraphy developed on the basis of tradition?

First of all, we must understand the role of seals. The purpose of using seals in calligraphy works is as follows:

(1) The picture is rich and the composition is balanced.

(2) Supplement and enrich the contents of the entry.

(3) The artistic charm of the seal itself.

(4) It is conducive to appreciation and collection.

Because of the differences in writing tools (pen and paper) between hard pen calligraphy and traditional calligraphy, there are also differences in form between them. Because of the small font of pen calligraphy, ordinary white paper is generally used, and hard pen calligraphy also has its own uniqueness in the use of seals.

1. seal style: the line characteristics of hard pen calligraphy are mainly "fine and hard", so it is advisable to choose a strong and fine and hard seal. Hard-pen regular script can choose a neatly printed seal, cursive script should choose a vigorous seal, and official script should choose a simple seal.

2. Size and quantity of seals: Because the paper used for hard-pen calligraphy is small and the font is small, the seals used for hard-pen calligraphy should be small rather than large, generally 8 ~ 10 mm seals are enough. Too large a seal is a common problem in many hard-pen calligraphy works. In the same way, the number of seals used in the same work should be less than more, generally only one side is needed, and at most two sides are needed (when two sides are printed, one Zhu and one white is better). For the author, of course, it is necessary to prepare more seals of different styles to choose from.

3. Number of words and content printed: Hard pen calligraphy uses fewer seals, so the number of words printed should be less than more (generally only one word can be engraved), and it should be simple and uncomplicated. Printed content is generally engraved with the author's "surname". Some authors only sign their names without writing their surnames, and their seals are just "seals" (without writing their surnames), which are repetitive and cannot fully express the author's names. It's best to sign your own name when signing, and then affix the word "surname", so that the signature will have a name and surname, and the words and chapters complement each other.

4. The beginning part: Hard-pen calligraphy, due to the limitation of words, generally do not need to use the beginning part.

In addition, traditional calligraphy uses Xuan paper, which can be preserved for a long time after being stamped and mounted. Hard pen calligraphy mostly uses white paper. After stamping, the inkpad floats on the paper, and it is easy to get dirty if it is not well kept. Therefore, hard-pen calligraphy should use less seals. Especially after signing, when there is no stamp position, it is even more impossible to forcibly cover it. For inkpad, we should choose the good and use it. It is particularly important to note that most of the "seals" carved by seal cutting shops are artistic and incompatible with calligraphy works. It's best not to use them.

In short, the use of hard-pen calligraphy should be small and precise, and the style of seal should be selected according to the style of the work and the needs of the layout of the work. If the seal is used properly, it can add luster to the work, otherwise it will only destroy the artistry of the work. (The words related to the hard pen calligraphy seal here are selected from Writing, No.5, 2005)

Seal knowledge and common problems in calligraphy works (the use and types of attached seal, the maintenance of inkpad, etc. )

Editor's note: The above is the knowledge about seals in calligraphy works. For stationery, you can also read the top ten brush brands in China (with the selection and maintenance methods of brush), the top five famous inks in China and their common ink characteristics (with the knowledge of ink selection), the top ten Xuan paper brands in China (with the types, selection and maintenance methods and common problems of Xuan paper) and the top ten famous inks in China.