What is seal cutting?

Seal cutting, also known as printing, is a unique traditional art in China. Oracle Bone Inscriptions is the earliest seal cutting. In the Spring and Autumn Period, with the appearance of seals, seal cutting gradually became a specialized skill. At first, seals were collectively called "seals". After Qin Shihuang unified the six countries, it was stipulated that the "seal" was used exclusively by the emperor. "The prince said treasure, and the officials below the county king said seal." From Jian 'an in the late Han Dynasty to the Three Kingdoms and the Jin Dynasty, most of them were engraved in white to seal objects and serve as credit checks. During the Six Dynasties, Zhu Wen was engraved. After the Tang Dynasty, seals were used more and more widely. In addition to the name, there are seals of books, collections and appreciation, and the seal of Zhaitang Museum. At the same time, "idle printing" engraved with idioms and poems began to appear, which marked that seal cutting technology began to become an artistic creation and gradually added interest to works of art such as calligraphy and painting. At this point, seal cutting, which integrates calligraphy, painting and sculpture, has become an art with unique aesthetic value.