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Ancient art gets seal of approval
By UNESCO website |
March 10, 2013, Sunday
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Print Edition
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THE art of seal engraving is a cornerstone of Chinese fine arts. A seal was originally used as a signature or sign of authority, but came to be used by all social classes in much of Asia.
The Seal Engravers' Society of Xiling in Zhejiang Province, central China, which was founded a century ago, preserves the art of seal engraving, along with approximately 100 other institutions.
The history of the art can be traced back such as Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), when government or official seals had some short notations on their side surfaces.
In the late years of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), these became more popular, accompanied by the appearance of great seal artists, such as Wang Mian. In the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, seal engraving was widespread, reaching new heights in the mid and late Ming Dynasty.
The design is first sketched on paper, and then engraved on stone, in reverse, with a knife. In addition to mastery of traditional calligraphy, the art of engraving requires a high degree of virtuosity, since the artist works on a tiny surface area where every curve, every thickness of line counts.
The art of seal engraving was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2009.
The Seal Engravers' Society of Xiling in Zhejiang Province, central China, which was founded a century ago, preserves the art of seal engraving, along with approximately 100 other institutions.
The history of the art can be traced back such as Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), when government or official seals had some short notations on their side surfaces.
In the late years of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), these became more popular, accompanied by the appearance of great seal artists, such as Wang Mian. In the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, seal engraving was widespread, reaching new heights in the mid and late Ming Dynasty.
The design is first sketched on paper, and then engraved on stone, in reverse, with a knife. In addition to mastery of traditional calligraphy, the art of engraving requires a high degree of virtuosity, since the artist works on a tiny surface area where every curve, every thickness of line counts.
The art of seal engraving was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2009.
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