The Yang script means that the characters are protruding on the stone, while the Yin script is concave. The characters or images on the seal have two shapes: concave and convex. The ones on the four sides are called Yin characters (also called female characters), and the opposite ones are called Yang characters.
However, the ancient nomenclature is the opposite of the current one, because the ancients called Yin and Yang scripts according to the mark of the seal on the sealing mud. The Yin script on the seal is Yang script on the seal. ; The seal is in Yang characters, but the seal is in Yin characters. Therefore, in order to avoid misunderstanding, the Yin script is called Baiwen and the Yang script is called Zhuwen.
1. The difference between Yangwen and Yinwen:
Name stamps are generally divided into two types: Zhuwen (Yangwen) and Baiwen (Yinwen). When there are two name seals on a calligraphy work, it is best to have one in red and one in white, and the two chapters should be of appropriate size. When multiple chapters are used at the end of the payment, the order is the name seal first, followed by the word and number seals.
2. The weight of Yangwen and Yinwen:
In terms of printing color, the red printing is lighter and the white printing is heavier. For works with light and elegant ink, it is appropriate to use a red seal to keep the two in harmony; for works with a heavy ink, it is best to use a white seal to create a strong contrast between the red vermilion and the jet-black ink.
3. The difference between Zhu Wen and Bai Wen’s calligraphy:
As an art of seal cutting, there are many types of seals. According to the shape of the seal, seals in calligraphy can be divided into square, round, flat, waist-round, semicircle, oval, gourd-shaped, Xiao-shaped, natural-shaped, etc.; according to the seal cutting method, they can be divided into Zhuwen (Yangwen) and Baiwen. (Yinwen) two forms; according to the content of the seal cutting, it can be divided into famous seals and idle seals.
Generally speaking, ancient seals are mostly white seals, the fonts are elegant and ancient, the writing style is strong, and the turning points should be completed in one go. Baiwenyin fonts are generally fat but not bloated, thin but withered, easy to use, beautiful in nature, and most avoid artificiality. Zhuwenyin began in the Six Dynasties and became popular in the Tang and Song Dynasties. The fonts are elegant and elegant, and the strokes are fully exposed, but the handwriting should not be thick, as roughness will appear vulgar.
Extended information:
Things to note when stamping calligraphy works
1. Appropriate size
The size of the seal should be consistent with the size of the work. The style should match the size of the inscription. It should be equal to the inscription. It can be smaller. It should not be larger than the inscription. If it is too large, it will be inelegant. If the characters are small and the paper is narrow, you can use small couplets and beads to show your thoughtfulness. When two seals of different sizes are used in a work, the upper one should be smaller and the lower one should be larger to achieve stability and avoid the disadvantage of being top-heavy.
2. The quantity should be small
The number of seals is odd in ancient times. There is a seal that says, "Use one instead of two, use three instead of four, and use an odd number to support the yang and suppress the yin." The number of seals should not be too many, because too many seals will cause confusion and even overwhelm the guest. If a work is digitally printed, different printing surfaces must be selected to avoid duplication.
3. Appropriate positioning
Pay careful attention to the position of the seal. A work always has its virtual reality, density and density. If the dense areas are not compact enough, you can use seals to fill them; if the sparse areas feel empty, you can use seals to fill them in, just like moving small "weights" to make the picture even and smooth. The position of the name and font size stamp at the end of the paragraph should be carefully arranged. If there is a blank space under the title, the stamp should be placed under the signature; if there is no blank space, it should be left rather than right.
The final seals should be kept at appropriate intervals to avoid crowding and loosening. A work should bear both the introductory chapter and the corner seal, and should not be placed aside. The corner seal should be placed in the lower left corner, diagonally opposite to the lead seal.