Seal carving is a traditional technique developed from which ...

Seal carving is a unique engraving art developed from the ancient Chinese seal making technique.

Seal-engraving uses stone as the main material, the carving knife as the tool, and Chinese characters as the representation, emphasizing not only the brushwork and structure of Chinese calligraphy, but also the free and unrestrained artistic expression in engraving.

In ancient times, seals were mainly used for power, identity and credentials. With the passage of time, the skill of seal making gradually developed into an independent art form, namely seal carving. Seal carving works of art can be appreciated independently, but also widely used in calligraphy and painting works and other fields.

The origin of seal carving can be traced back to the oracle bone inscriptions of the Yin and Shang Dynasties, when people already started to carve words on tortoise shells as a means of remembering things or conveying information. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, the art of seal making was greatly developed and unique styles and schools were formed. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the art of seal carving gradually matured, and many outstanding seal carvers and schools emerged, such as Wen Peng, He Zhen and Ding Jing.

Characteristics of Seal Engraving:

1. Unique Use of Materials: Seal engraving mainly adopts stone as the material for engraving seals, such as Qingtian stone, Shoushan stone and Changhua stone. The hardness and brittleness of these stones are moderate, which are easy to engrave and can be preserved for a long time. At the same time, seal carvers need to use the carving knife flexibly in the process of engraving, showing the lines and structure of the text through the knife, showing the unique artistic charm.

2, high skill requirements: seal carving requires a very high level of skill. Seal engravers need to master calligraphy and engraving skills, and have a deep understanding of the structure of the text, strokes and chapters. In the engraving process, the seal carver needs to use knife skills such as punching and cutting, and flexibly apply them according to the characteristics of the stone, to show the rhythm and rhythm of the text.

3, deep connotation expression: seal carving is not only the process of engraving, but also a deep thinking and expression of words, culture and history. Seal carvers convey their aesthetic concepts, thoughts and feelings, and cultural connotations by carving words. At the same time, seal carving works are also a reflection of the background and social environment of the times, and can show the spiritual outlook and cultural connotation of the times.