Common sense of seal script

1. What is Xiao Zhuan?

Xiao Zhuan, also known as Qin Zhuan, is a font evolved from Da Zhuan.

It came into being in the state of Qin at the end of the Warring States and prevailed in the Qin Dynasty and the early Western Han Dynasty. Xu Shen in Shuo Wen Jie Zi? "Syria" said: "At the beginning of Qin Shihuang, Prime Minister Li Si played with it instead of cooperating with Qin Wen.

Writing, Zhao Gao was instructed to write calendars, and Hu Wu was instructed by a surname to write learning books, all of which were based on the seal script of Historical Records, or after considerable changes, the so-called small seal script. According to this statement, Xiao Zhuan seems to be a font directly changed from Da Zhuan Province by a few people such as Li Si, Zhao Gao and Hu Wujing.

However, from the unearthed Qin cultural relics, it can be seen that Xiao Zhuan gradually evolved from Da Zhuan, and there is no clear time limit between them. Some characters of seal script are also very complicated, which is inconvenient to write and does not meet the requirements of social development. Therefore, simplification began in the Spring and Autumn Period, and was obviously accelerated in the Warring States Period. Li Si and others just collected and sorted out the seal script fonts that have been widely used in society and promoted them to the whole society as standard fonts.

The written materials of Xiao Zhuan in Qin Dynasty include Taishan stone carving, Langya stone carving, Yishan stone carving, Huiji stone carving and so on. , and many versions in Qin Liang, Qin Quan and Marsh. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Xu Shen wrote Shuo Wen Jie Zi, which received 9353 words of Xiao Zhuan.

2. What are the characteristics of Xiao Zhuan?

Rectangular, with a half-character square as the degree, one character is straight and the half-character is vertical, and the approximate ratio is about 3:2.

2. The strokes are horizontal and vertical, round and even, and the thickness is basically the same. All horizontal and vertical paintings are equidistant and parallel, and all strokes are mainly round, and the circle is round and square, which makes the circle lively and interesting.

3. Balance and symmetry, spatial division, balance and symmetry are the unique charm of seal script. Symmetry exists not only in left-right symmetry and up-down symmetry, but also in local symmetry of characters and left-right oblique symmetry of circular strokes.

4. Tightening up and loosening down, most of the characters in Xiao Zhuan are in the upper part, and the lower part is telescopic and vertical. Of course, there are also characters with no feet below. The main strokes are in the lower part, and the upper strokes can be raised.

Extended data:

Li Si, the prime minister of Qin Dynasty, was called the originator of Xiao Zhuan. According to Records of Historical Records and Biography of Lisi, after Lisi was imprisoned by Zhao Gao, Prime Minister Lisi tried to write a letter to Qin Ershi, which retorted that it was a crime for him to "paint more pictures, measure articles and spread all over the world in the name of Qin Shu" during his administration.

It can be inferred that Reese is probably directly involved in the work of "sharing books". Thirdly, Shu Duan compiled by Zhang Huaiguan, a calligraphy theorist in the Tang Dynasty, and Kangxi Dictionary in the Qing Dynasty also think that the author of seal script is Li Si in the Qin Dynasty.

Therefore, later generations often compare the small seal characters depicted on Qin dynasty artifacts with those written by Li Si, and the most credible one is "Mount Tai carved stone".

3. What is seal script?

Xiao Zhuan is a kind of seal script in Qin Dynasty.

After Qin Shihuang unified the six countries, in order to adapt to the situation of centralized and unified politics and economy, he also implemented the policy of unified measurement and "cars on one track, books on one page". The so-called "the same book with the same language" is the second reform of Chinese characters in the history of our country, and it is also the second standardization and unification of seal script.

But this time, the more prominent feature is simplification, that is, on the basis of Zhou Dynasty's writings, the strokes and characters with relatively simple structures are retained, and the strokes and characters with complex structures are simplified, just like "Shuo Wen Jie Zi?" "Xu" said: "They are all based on the big seal script played by the teacher, or they have been quite modified. The same is true of the so-called' Xiao Yan'. " Judging from the aesthetic principles of Xiao Zhuan, it is basically consistent with Wen Shu and Shi Guwen, that is, the strokes are round, beautiful, stable, correct, balanced and symmetrical, and its masterpieces are Mount Tai, Peak Mountain, Langyatai and other stone carvings.

4. Knowledge of seal script

[Edit this paragraph] seal script

One of the ancient scripts in China. Guo Moruo, a close friend, said in Dialectical Development of Ancient Chinese Characters: "Those who slap seals are also officials. The official system of the Han dynasty generally followed the Qin system, with officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs as officials of the Ministry of George and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as officials of the Ministry of Cao, all of which were subordinate to official documents. So the so-called seal script is actually official script.

In a broad sense, seal script includes all the characters before official script and their extensions, such as Oracle Bone Inscriptions,, Six Kingdoms, Xiao Zhuan, Miao Zhuan and overprint. Narrow sense mainly refers to' big seal' and' small seal'. The variant of seal script is extremely complicated. The ancients believed that seal script was written by Cang Xie, but it was not credible. Zhou Xuanwang Taishi Shuan wrote Shi Shuan Pian, titled Dazhuan, and detailed the article Dazhuan. Later, countries divided and ruled, governors were in power, and characters were created. In the Qin dynasty, Reese was the same. * * * was called' Biography'. See' Biography' for details. The characters of seal script are round, and the structure is based on the meaning of six books. So Sun of the Tang Dynasty said, "Seal script is still graceful and smooth."

big seal character

An ancient Chinese character. Its name first appeared in Han dynasty's works, which is symmetrical with' Biography'. Broadly speaking, it refers to the characters before Biography, including Oracle Bone Inscriptions, Zhong Dingwen, Wen Shu and Six Kingdoms. In a narrow sense, it refers to the written language defined in Zhou Xuanwang Taishi. The representative works of Da Zhuan include the inscriptions of Shi Guwen and Qin Gonggui.

Evolution of seal script

Since the Han Dynasty, it is generally believed that Da Zhuan was written by Zhou Xuanwang Taishi Zhuan (827 BC). For example, Hanshu has 15 history books, and Ban Gu notes: "Zhou Xuanwang wrote 15 seals." Xu Shen also said: "Wang Xuan wrote fifteen pieces of Da Zhuan, which is different from ancient Chinese." Ancient Chinese or others, that is, Taishi increased and lost ancient Chinese, so Dazhuan is also called "Zhu Wen". Therefore, later generations all think that Da Zhuan is a form after ancient prose.

Among the stone carvings handed down from ancient times, Shi Guwen is the most representative. This kind of stone tool is undoubtedly the oldest and most reliable stone cultural relic in China. It is now in the Palace Museum in Beijing. Shi Guwen has an important position in the history of calligraphy.

The oldest rubbings known in the world are Song rubbings collected by Fan Tianyi Pavilion in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.

The font is roughly between Zhou and Qin Xiao Zhuan. It is known to belong to the calligraphy system before Qin Shihuang. Compared with Xiao Zhuan, it can be called Da Zhuan, which is a masterpiece of Da Zhuan. Its font is small and complicated, like a ritual vessel in Zongzhou period, which is relatively complete and can be called neat. Kang Youwei called Shi Guwen in "Guangyi, One Boat, Two Cans": "When gold falls to the ground, the grass clouds are strange, and it is not annoying to cut it all. The body is slightly flat, and the insect is similar to qi. Shigu is not only the first antique in China, but also the first method for calligraphers. " It can be said that it is appreciation. Shi Guwen was cherished by Yilin, but after the Northern Song Dynasty, calligraphy research flourished and few people set foot in it. Until the middle of the Qing Dynasty, the wind of archaeological respect for monuments revived, and the stone drum characters were especially valued by calligraphers. Wu Da, you can get strict rhymes. Wu Changshuo, on the other hand, was angry that he was a man in ancient times. Both of them regard contemporary calligraphy as the most important thing for future generations.

I want to know something about Xiao Zhuan, thank you, but I don't know how.

Xiao Zhuan is also called "Qin Zhuan". During the Qin Dynasty, Li Si was ordered to unify the characters, which was called Xiao Zhuan. It was in the Qin dynasty. The shape is long, even and neat, and it evolved from Da Zhuan. Xu Shen's Record of Explaining Words in the Eastern Han Dynasty said: "Qin Shihuang was the first emperor in the world at the beginning, ... but he was not in harmony with Qin Wen. (Li) Si wrote that CZ ordered Zhao Gao to write a calendar, and Tai Shi ordered Hu Wujing to write a study book, all of which were based on the great seal of history, or they existed quite well, so-called small seal. " Nowadays, the residual stones (pictured) in "Engraving Stones in Langyatai" and "Engraving Stones in Taishan" are the masterpieces of Xiao Zhuan.

It is said that the seal script carved by Qin Quan was written by Li Si. After Qin Shihuang unified China, he implemented the policy of "writing with the same class, cars with the same track". Prime Minister Reese is in charge. On the basis of the original seal script used by Qin, he simplified it, canceled the variant characters of other six countries, and created a unified writing form of Chinese characters. It was popular in China until the end of the Western Han Dynasty, and was gradually replaced by official script. But because of its beautiful font, it has always been favored by calligraphers. Because of its complex strokes and simple form, it is possible to add twists and turns and seal cutting at will, especially the official seal that needs anti-counterfeiting. Seal script was always used until the collapse of feudal dynasty and the emergence of modern new anti-counterfeiting technology. All the words in Kangxi Dictionary are also marked with seal script writing.

Hezhuan script

Seal script is a general term for big seal script and small seal script. Dazhuan refers to Oracle Bone Inscriptions, Jinwen, Jinwen and Six Kingdoms, and retains the obvious features of ancient hieroglyphics. Xiao Zhuan, also known as "Qin Zhuan", is a commonly used character in Qin State and a simplified font of Da Zhuan, which is characterized by uniform and neat glyphs and is easier to write than Wen Shu. In the development history of Chinese characters, it is the transition between seal script and official script.

6. Knowledge of seal script

[Edit this paragraph] Seal script is one of the ancient Chinese characters.

Guo Moruo, a close friend, said in Dialectical Development of Ancient Chinese Characters: "Those who slap seals are also officials. The official system of the Han dynasty generally followed the Qin system, with officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs as officials of the Ministry of George and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as officials of the Ministry of Cao, all of which were subordinate to official documents.

So the so-called seal script is actually official script. In a broad sense, seal script includes all the characters before official script and their extensions, such as Oracle Bone Inscriptions, Liu Guo, Xiao Zhuan, Miao Zhuan, and overprint. Narrow sense mainly refers to' big seal' and' small seal'.

The variant of seal script is extremely complicated. The ancients believed that seal script was written by Cang Xie, but it was not credible.

Zhou Xuanwang Taishi Shuan wrote Shi Shuan Pian, titled Dazhuan, and detailed the article Dazhuan. Later, countries divided and ruled, governors were in power, and characters were created. In the Qin dynasty, Reese was the same. * * * was called' Biography'. See' Biography' for details.

The characters of seal script are round, and the structure is based on the meaning of six books. Therefore, in the Tang Dynasty, Sun said that "seal script is graceful and smooth" is one of the ancient characters of Da Zhuan. Its name first appeared in Han dynasty's works, which is symmetrical with' Biography'.

Broadly speaking, it refers to the characters before Biography, including Oracle Bone Inscriptions, Zhong Dingwen, Wen Shu and Six Kingdoms. In a narrow sense, it refers to the written language defined in Zhou Xuanwang Taishi. The representative works of Da Zhuan include the inscriptions of Shi Guwen and Qin Gonggui.

Since the Han Dynasty, it is generally believed that the evolution of seal script was completed by Zhou Xuanwang Tai Shihuan (827 BC). For example, Hanshu has 15 history books, and Ban Gu notes: "Zhou Xuanwang wrote 15 seals."

Xu Shen also said: "Wang Xuan wrote fifteen pieces of Da Zhuan, which is different from ancient Chinese." Ancient Chinese or others, that is, Taishi increased and lost ancient Chinese, so Dazhuan is also called "Zhu Wen".

Therefore, later generations all think that Da Zhuan is a form after ancient prose. Among the stone carvings handed down from ancient times, Shi Guwen is the most representative.

This kind of stone tool is undoubtedly the oldest and most reliable stone cultural relic in China. It is now in the Palace Museum in Beijing.

Shi Guwen has an important position in the history of calligraphy. The oldest rubbings known in the world are Song rubbings collected by Fan Tianyi Pavilion in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.

The font is roughly between Zhou and Qin Xiao Zhuan. It is known to belong to the calligraphy system before Qin Shihuang.

Compared with Xiao Zhuan, it can be called Da Zhuan, which is a masterpiece of Da Zhuan. Its font is small and complicated, like a ritual vessel in Zongzhou period, which is relatively complete and can be called neat.

Kang Youwei called Shi Guwen in "Guangyi, One Boat, Two Cans": "When gold falls to the ground, the grass clouds are strange, and it is not annoying to cut it all. The body is slightly flat, and the insect is similar to qi. Shigu is not only the first antique in China, but also the first method for calligraphers. "

It can be said that it is appreciation. Shi Guwen was cherished by Yilin, but after the Northern Song Dynasty, calligraphy research flourished and few people set foot in it. Until the middle of the Qing Dynasty, the wind of archaeological respect for monuments revived, and the stone drum characters were especially valued by calligraphers.

Wu Da, you can get strict rhymes. Wu Changshuo, on the other hand, was angry that he was a man in ancient times.

Both of them regard contemporary calligraphy as the most important thing for future generations.

7. What's the difference between Da Zhuan and Xiao Zhuan?

Seal script is divided into big seal script and small seal script.

Biography is also called Wen Shu, Biography of Shu, Shushu and History Book. Taishi Shuan wrote fifteen pieces of "Da Zhuan" when he was in Zhou Xuanwang. Because it was written by Shuan, it was called "Shuan Wen".

Wen Shu is based on ancient prose, and it is sorted out on the basis of ancient prose, so there are similarities and differences between it and ancient prose. Today, his works are scattered in Shuo Wen Jie Zi and various Zhong Ding Yi wares collected by later generations.

Among them, Shi Guwen in Zhou Xuanwang is the most famous. Xiao Zhuan, also known as Qin Zhuan, was created by Li Si, the prime minister of Qin Dynasty.

Qin Shihuang destroyed six countries and unified China. Its vast territory, numerous state affairs and increasingly numerous documents make it difficult to apply the original text. In addition, the original seven countries of Qin, Chu, Qi, Yan, Zhao, Wei and Han had different books and different writing methods, and they were in urgent need of unification. Innovating the style of writing is the order of ministers.

As a result, Prime Minister Reese wrote Cang Xie, CZ ordered Zhao Gao to write a calendar, and a surname ordered Hu Wujing to write a book of knowledge, all of which were simplified. Xiao Zhuan, also known as Yujin Zhuan, is named for its writing significance.

I hope I can help you.

8. How did Xiao Zhuan develop?

After Qin Shihuang unified the world, he began to unify the writing, which was in charge of Prime Minister Lisi. On the basis of the big seal script originally used by Qin, he accommodated the fonts of other countries, simplified the fonts, and cancelled the variant characters, thus creating a unified writing form, namely Xiao seal script, also known as Xiao seal script.

The appearance of Xiao Zhuan marks the first unification of ancient Chinese characters in China, which is a key setback in the development history of Chinese characters. The font of Xiao Zhuan is characterized by stippling all lines, uniform thickness, roundness, dignity and preciseness, the combination of reality and reality, proper density, calmness and peace, and vigor and strength.

Although Xiao Zhuan was gradually replaced by Li Shu after the end of the Western Han Dynasty, it was favored by calligraphers because of its beautiful font, and it has been an important calligraphy font for more than two thousand years. Almost all ancient seals used Xiao Zhuan, so it was also called seal cutting.