Stamp and seal are Chinese symbols to prove personal identity and stand for status. Combining old traditions ofattention to Chinese character, handwriting, and study of name, stamp and sealmaking have created their own unique culture.
Before, both official and civil stamps and seals were called Xi. After the unification of the six countries by Qin, there was a new regulation that only the stamp of the emperor could be called Xi (emperor stamp), the subjects’ stamps were to be called Yin (general stamp). Yin was renamed Zhang in Han Dynasty. Hence the name, Yinzhang (stamp and seal) was created.
The stamps and seals in Qin and Han Dynasties and of earlier times were used as approval signs on sealed articles. They stamped the wax to protect unauthorized opening and provide evidence of control and authorization. Stamp and seal are used with red color. Not only are they applied for daily sealing and authorization purposes, but also as mark of handwriting and signature, for instance on paintings. Today stamp and seal in themselves turned to be special artistic articles in China. In ancient times, they used copper, silver, gold, jade and azure stones as materials to make stamp and seal. Then ivory, horn, wood, crystal and stone became popular after Yuan Dynasty. In 1920, Yan Zhichao rediscovered documents about Copper Carving Craftsmanship of theYan Family. This discovery enabled the once lost metal stamp casting technique to enter a brand new time. |
