Chinese Seals 用英语讲中国|中国印章

Seal cutting, though based on Chinese calligraphy, is a comparatively independent traditional art form. It takes Chinese characters as its form of expression, using carving knives instead of the writing brushes, and stone instead of paper. Similar to inscriptions on ancient bronze and stone tablets, it can be viewed as a pocket edition of tablet inscription. The seal has many names in history. It was called xiyin (literally meaning the imperial or royal seal) during the Warring States Period, the Qin and Han dynasties, and the Wei and Jin periods. The Ming and the Qing dynasties were universally acknowledged to be the two golden periods in the history of seal cutting, and coincidentally the seal was known as seal cutting then. And the long period from the Tang Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty turned out to be a time when the royal seal was on the wane and seal cutting waiting to be rejuvenated. The use of the seal also varied. Clay impression was used before the Sui and Tang dynasties and inkpad or red ink paste has been used since the Tang and the Song dynasties.

Xiyin can be classified into official seals and private seals. Official seals refer to those of emperors and officials. The making materials used in ancient times mainly include gold, silver, copper, jade, amber, agate, stone, bamboo and wood. And copper seals constituted an overwhelming majority. Most of the seals were cast, and some were carved.

“Chinese Seal, Dancing Beijing”, the emblem of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games officially unveiled on August 3, 2003, is a combination of the five rings, a Chinese seal character of Beijing and “Beijing 2008” in English.

中国印章

章即玺印篆刻，是依附于书法而又具有相对独立性的一种传统艺术形式。它也是以文字为表现对象，而以刀为笔，以石作纸，与金石碑版相近，可以看作是袖珍的碑版。在印章史上它的名称几经变更，战国、秦汉、魏晋的印章称为玺印，明清以后的印章称为篆刻，是印章史上公认的两个高峰。唐、宋、元三代则处于玺印已衰、篆刻未兴的低谷。在用印方法上，前后也不相同，隋唐以前封泥，唐宋以来使用印泥。

玺印一般分为官印和私印两类。官印称官方的用印，包括帝王的宝玺和官员的印章；私家的用印统称为私印。古玺印以坚实的物质为材料，大体上有金、银、铜、玉、琥珀、玛瑙、瓦石、竹木等，尤以铜质为多。制作方法多用铸造法，但也有凿刻法。

附：

2003年8月3日晚，北京奥组委举行隆重的会徽发布仪式，第29届奥运会会徽终于揭开了神秘的面纱。会徽“中国印·舞动的北京”将中国特色、北京特点和奥林匹克运动元素巧妙结合以印章作为主体表现形式，将中国传统的印章和书法等艺术形式与运动特征结合起来，经过艺术手法夸张变形，巧妙地幻化成一个向前奔跑、舞动着迎接胜利的运动人形。

Tips:

Hey小伙伴们，今天咱们来聊聊那些藏在方寸间的东方美学——中国印章。

印章，听起来是不是有点老古董？但其实，它可是个时髦的小玩意儿。它不是简单的戳戳乐，而是书法的双胞胎兄弟，一种用刀刻出来的艺术。想象一下，一块石头，一把刻刀，就能把文字变得活灵活现，这手艺，简直不要太酷！它还像你手机里的表情包，印章也能表达你的个性和态度。

印章，不仅仅是一个标记，它是一种艺术，一种文化，一种传承。每个印章背后，都有它的故事，它的温度。就像你收藏的那些限量版球鞋，每个印章都是独一无二的。

印章的世界，色彩斑斓。你可以用它来封印你的情书，也可以用它来标记你的日记。甚至，你可以用它来点缀你的艺术作品，让你的作品更有个性。

别以为印章只属于过去，它在现代生活中同样大放异彩。从个性化的名片到独特的品牌标识，印章都能为你的个人品牌加分。它就像你的个人签名，但更有趣，更有深度。

印章的乐趣，在于创造。你可以自己动手，设计一个专属于你的印章。不管是送给朋友，还是留给自己，都是一份特别的礼物。

小伙伴们，下次当你看到印章，不妨停下脚步，感受一下这个小方块里的大世界。说不定，你也能从中找到属于自己的乐趣和灵感哦！