Nine-fold seal script
| Nine-fold seal script | |
|---|---|
 A seal impression bearing the text "大英伯朙𦤃龍正㞢章" (modern: "大英伯明皇龍正之章") in nine-fold seal script | |
| Script type | |
Time period | Song dynasty onwards |
| Languages | Middle Chinese |
| Related scripts | |
Parent systems | Oracle bone script
|
Nine-fold seal script[a][1][2] or nine-fold script,[b][3] also translated nine-bend script,[3] or layered script[5] is a highly stylised form of Chinese calligraphy derived from small seal script, using convoluted winding strokes aligned to horizontal and vertical directions, folded back and forth to fill the available space.[1][2][3] It was used for Chinese characters on official seals by the Song dynasty and the contemporaneous Liao dynasty,[1] as well as by later dynasties such as the Ming dynasty.[5] It is encountered mainly on official governmental seals,[4] but occasionally seen in other contexts, such as the seals of Daoist masters.[5]
Form and terminology
Strokes are conformed to the horizontal and vertical directions.[2] As the name suggests, the strokes of a character are "folded" or "stacked" back on themselves,[2] such as to fill the available space.[3] This creates a rhythmic, layered or spiralling, visual effect.[5]
Depending on the complexity of the character and space constraints of the seal face, however, the number of "fold" layers did not always equal nine, but could be as few as six[2] or as many as sixteen.[4] Although the term "nine-fold seal script" in a broad sense includes these variations,[2][4] such examples are sometimes referred to simply as "folded/layered seal script",[c][2][5] or by specific terms such as "eight-fold seal script".[d][3]
History
Nine-fold seal script was developed during the Song dynasty (960–1279).[5] The contemporaneous Khitan Liao dynasty adopted it for Chinese-language seals, and also adapted it for the Khitan large script for use on Khitan-language seals. The Western Xia dynasty also developed a seal-script form of the Tangut script inspired by the nine-fold seal script.[1]
One of the earliest examples of folded seal script is the "Seal of the Inner Court Library" used by the court of Emperor Huizong of Song (reigned 1100–1126) on artworks in the imperial collection.[5]
The influence of nine-fold seal script continued during the remainder of the Imperial Chinese period; for example, it was used in Ming dynasty governmental seals.[5] The Mongol-led Yuan dynasty developed a seal-script form of Phags-pa influenced by Chinese nine-fold seal script,[1][5] and the Manchu-led Qing dynasty did the same for the Manchu script.[1]
See also
Footnotes
- ^ simplified Chinese: 九叠篆; traditional Chinese: 九疊篆; pinyin: jiǔ dié zhuàn
- ^ simplified Chinese: 九叠文; traditional Chinese: 九疊文; pinyin: jiǔ dié wén;[3] or simplified Chinese: 九叠书; traditional Chinese: 九疊書; pinyin: jiǔ dié shū[4]
- ^ simplified Chinese: 叠篆; traditional Chinese: 疊篆; pinyin: dié zhuàn
- ^ simplified Chinese: 八叠篆; traditional Chinese: 八疊篆; pinyin: bā dié zhuàn
References
- ^ a b c d e f West, Andrew (2023-06-08) [2012-10-16]. "A. Ninefold Seal Script Official Seals". Khitan Seals.
- ^ a b c d e f g "九疊篆 : ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄧㄝˊ ㄓㄨㄢ". Revised Mandarin Chinese Dictionary. Ministry of Education (Taiwan). 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Seal Glossary". Seal Society.
- ^ a b c d Kobayashi, Sachie (2012). "Description of East Asian Seal Impressions as Metadata". Journal of East Asian Libraries. 2012 (155). Pittsburgh, PA: Council on East Asian Libraries, Association for Asian Studies / Brigham Young University. ISSN 1087-5093.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Huang, Shih-Shan Susan (2018). "Daoist Seals, Part 2: Classifying Different Types". Journal of Daoist Studies. 11. University of Hawaiʻi: 46–82. doi:10.1353/dao.2018.0002. ISSN 1941-5524.