After the Mongols in the Yuan Dynasty entered the Central Plains, among the four ethnic classes divided by China, the first-class and second-class Mongols and Semu people, most of them didn't know Chinese characters, so they "couldn't spend a lot of money to write" in their communication, let alone know the seal script like a sealed book. As a result, the simple and clear flower prints that have appeared since the Tang and Song Dynasties have risen with the trend and quickly spread from the official to the folk.
With the prosperity of flower seal in Yuan Dynasty, a large number of talented literati names should be listed: Zhao Mengfu, Yanwu, Lu Xiong, Yang Zun, Wu Rui, Ke, Xian Yushu, Yu Ji, Zhang Yu, Zhenwu, Zhu Derun, Su Danian, Yang Weizhen, Rao Jie, Ni Zan, Wang Meng, Gu Ying, Zong Lian, Wang Mian and Zhu Gui.
After long-term exploration, the above-mentioned literati in the Yuan Dynasty contributed to the emergence of literati seal engravers who wrote their own books and established the aesthetic view of China and China, making seal engraving an indispensable part of's calligraphy and painting works.
For example, Zhao Mengfu's spiritual pursuit of nature, purity and simplicity is more distinctive, and has long influenced seal cutting-the seal of Yuan Dynasty. He advocated "the ancient meaning is precious" in calligraphy and painting, borrowed the ancient to open the present, and also put forward this idea in seal cutting. The beauty of calligraphy, composition and style contained in seal cutting in Han and Wei Dynasties is exactly the way of artistic aesthetics he advocated and inherited.
Round Zhu Wenyin is a unique printing style advocated by Zhao Mengfu. This printing style, with fine lines, hairspring, neat and round brushwork, even white cloth, has a sense of silence and stability, which is consistent with Zhao Mengfu's paintings and calligraphy.
Comparing the handwriting of seal script left by Zhao Mengfu with that used in his paintings and calligraphy works, we can see that the seal script of this kind of seal is different from the ancient seal, but it has its spirit. It can be said that on the basis of traditional seal science, it changed the seal style at that time and broke a new path. He wrote many Zhu seals, which are exquisite and elegant, which are quite different from the exquisite Zhu seals in the past. This kind of seal he made, later called "Yuan Zhu Wen Yin", became another new pattern, which had a great influence on later seal cutting.
These beautifully written seals were dipped in vermilion inkpad and printed on calligraphy and painting works, which set off a precedent for literati to use seals in calligraphy and painting. It embodies Zhao Mengfu's various accomplishments and his pursuit of seal cutting, calligraphy and the beauty of composition.