Page 72 - Christie's Hong Kong November 29, 2022 Chang e Wha Collection of Jades

印學典範 CLASSIC SEAL SCRIPTS

「摹印由來溯漢秦」，明清以來至今，篆刻家皆以「法秦宗漢」 In Han dynasty official communications were written in clerical script,
為學印正統，尤其推崇漢印，比之如唐詩、宋詞、元曲的重要 but seals were carved in a newly developed script, based on Qin zhuanshu
script with clerical script modifications. This new script, called mouzhuan,
性，因此得以與中國書法、繪畫並肩，更於清末至民國時期以 (intertwined seal script) was categorised as one of the Liushu (six scripts)
「印學」之姿繼「畫學」、「書學」而成為獨立的藝術學科。 in the Xin Dynasty, and became the primary script for Han Dynasty
seals, whether official or private.
漢代的官方文字以隸書為主，但在製作璽印上，發展出一種繼
承秦篆而略加隸書體勢的印文風格，這種特殊形式的文字，到 In the first 20 years of the Western Han period, official seals adopted
了新莽時期被列為「六書」之一，稱為「繆篆」，因此，漢代 the Qin tradition of using four-square （田）or two-square （日）
從官印到私印，入印多為此種字體。 grids. As mouzhuan gradually developed, the use of grids decreased –
a clear divergence from Qin seals – although on occasions the grids are
漢朝官印，在西漢初期的 20 年間，仍保留秦制「田」字格或 used for compositional purposes with certain flexibility.
「日」字格，之後「繆篆」成熟，邊框界格的使用便日漸減少，
Generally speaking, Han Dynasty seals are carved intaglio in mouzhuan
這是與秦璽的顯著區別。但是亦偶有因結構佈局需求而使用界
with simple unadorned lines, and full, expansive curves. The characters
格，較之於秦璽活潑許多。 are square, upright and easily recognisable, composed of squares and
circles enclosing one another, with a tight composition showing the
整體而言，漢印印文以陰刻為主，採用「繆篆」，線條簡約質 clerical script influence, and has a sense of somber and unadorned
樸，屈曲飽滿，平正易識，結構方中帶圓，圓中見方，構思謹 grandeur.
嚴，帶有隸意，氣質端莊樸厚，從容大度。
Materials used to make Han Dynasty seals include bronze, gold,
漢朝璽印的材質包括銅、金、銀、玉，其中玉質漢印的藝術價 silver and jade. Jade seals are particularly prized by collectors for their
值極受藏家喜愛。一則是因為漢代自漢武帝始即獨尊儒術，君 artistry. This is because firstly, the Han Dynasty after Wudi Emperor
子「比德於玉」的儒家思想帶給玉器更多的文化內涵，因此， considered Confucianism the supreme philosophy. The Confucian
concept of ‘comparing a gentleman’s virtue to the characters of jade’
漢代包括玉印在內的玉器製作趨向規範化又具有創造性，體現
imbues jade with deeper cultural connotations, and production of jade
出恢弘大器的審美觀。 objects, including jade seals, were much more regulated while remaining
creative, showing the all-encompassing aesthetics of the period.
二則由於漢代完備了戰國至秦所建立的官印制度，玉質璽印從
質料、形制、款識上皆有體制，擁有鮮明的時代特色。一般來 Secondly, the Han Dynasty built on the system of official seal production
說，漢代官印皆為方形，規格通常為 2.3 釐米左右，西漢初期 established by the Warring States and Qin periods. Jade seal are codified
稍大，有的大至 2.6 釐米左右；同時，漢代私印種類增多，大 in terms of their material, form and inscription, showing distinct
characteristics of the period. Generally speaking, Han official seals are
小並無限制，多在 1.1 釐米至 2.3 釐米之間。
square in form, around 2.3 cm. square. In the early Western Han period
漢代玉印印鈕多作覆斗形，也有少量橋形鈕或螭虎鈕…等，鈕 they are slightly larger, some up to 2.6 cm. square. Seals for private use
下鑽橫孔，以綬帶懸於腰間。漢代玉印印文絕大多數鐫刻陰文 also proliferated, and their sizes can vary, normally between 1.1 cm. to
2.3 cm. square.
繆篆，雖然玉質堅硬，不易受刀，也因此產生了特殊的篆刻技
法，即「平刀直下」的「切刀法」，使方正寬博的漢印印風具 Finials on Han Dynasty seals are normally of ‘inverted funnel’ form,
有莊重典雅、凝鍊穩妥、高古秀麗的盛世氣象。 in some rare occasions those in ‘bridge’ form or carved as chi tigers are
found. The base of the finial is drilled for attachment to hang from
漢印印文也有「鳥蟲書」，但數量較少，就傳世漢印和印譜所 the belt. Most jade seals from Han Dynasty are carved intaglio with
見，僅有一百多方，且都是私印。 mouzhuan inscriptions. Jade is a hard material and difficult to carve, so a
special technique was developed for carving jade seals: qiedaofa (chopping
It is said that ‘seal making traces its roots back to Qin and Han’. technique), where the knife cuts vertically downward repeatedly to
From Ming and Qing Dynasties onwards, seal carvers have touted create a series of small cuts. This method creates characters that look
‘copying Qin and following Han’ as their orthodoxy, reserving their archaic, classic and elegant on the square seal face.
reverence in particular for Han seals, whose importance was elevated to
the level of Tang and Song poetry, Yuan plays or Chinese calligraphy Some Han Dynasty seals are carved in niaochongshu (‘bird and insect’ seal
and paintings. In the turn of Qing Dynasty and Republic era, the script) but they are very rare. From extant examples and impressions,
study of seals became a stand-alone subject like the study of paintings only over one hundred recorded, and mostly private seals.
or calligraphy.

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