Thirty-Five Propositions
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Summary
Chinese traditional culture has a long intellectual history, marked by a high degree of originality, inventiveness, and literary quality. Early forms of thought are highly distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist, and Hundred Schools thought, feng shui and metaphysical learning, the Twenty-Four Histories, customs and local gazetteers—these subjects are vast and profound. This "Essential Classics of Chinese National Culture—Original Texts" series preserves the original appearance of the books and focuses on conserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers cultivate their temperament and quietly absorb the classics of Chinese learning.
Editor's review
Thirty-Five Statements (Sanshiwu Ju) is a classic of seal-carving theory by Wu Qiuyan of the Yuan dynasty. In the form of thirty-five concise notes, it systematically discusses the essentials of seal-script writing and seal engraving. The book is short but clearly organized, moving step by step from character recognition and brushwork to compositional layout, and can be regarded as a foundational document for traditional seal carving. This new edition preserves the original appearance of the text and serves as a window into ancient Chinese sigillography and philology. Reading it, one can appreciate the rigor of early scholars and the deep cultural accumulation behind the art of seal carving. For readers who want to understand Chinese seal aesthetics and the relationship between calligraphy and writing from the source, this book offers irreplaceable primary material. Reading it alongside actual seals or seal catalogues is recommended for best results.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Beginners interested in the art of seal carving who wish to understand traditional sigillographic theory
- Readers studying calligraphy or philology who need to supplement their knowledge of seal script
- Lecturers engaged in popularizing traditional culture who need support from classic texts
- Classics enthusiasts who enjoy short notes and aphorisms and seek a concise reading experience
Not a good fit for
- Hands-on seal-carving learners expecting a systematic tutorial with abundant illustrated examples
- Readers impatient with classical Chinese and ancient treatises on writing who need plain-language explanations
- Enthusiasts interested only in modern seal-carving techniques and not in traditional theory
Reading tips
- First read through once to grasp the overall structure of the Thirty-Five Statements, then read each item closely and take notes
- Keep a seal-script dictionary or seal catalogue at hand and consult it whenever the text discusses character forms or layout
- After every few entries, try copying the relevant seal characters or carving a small seal to deepen understanding
- Read it alongside the relevant radical sections of the Shuowen Jiezi to understand the relationship between recognizing characters and using them
Contents
- 版权信息
- 一举曰：
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- 四举曰：
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- 十四举曰：
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- 十九举曰：
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- 二十一举曰：
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- 二十四举曰：
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- 二十六举曰：
- 二十七举曰：
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- 三十一举曰：
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- 三十三举曰：
- 三十四举曰：
- 三十五举曰：
FAQ
What is Thirty-Five Statements mainly about?
In the form of thirty-five notes, the book discusses the basic essentials of seal-script writing and seal engraving, covering character recognition, brushwork, character structure, and layout. It is an important document of traditional seal-carving theory, focused on establishing correct seal-carving concepts rather than providing detailed illustrated tutorials.
Can readers with no background in seal carving understand this book?
They can read it, but they need some ability to read classical Chinese. The entries are short and highly theoretical; readers are advised to consult seal-script dictionaries, seal catalogues, or introductory tutorials alongside the text. Complete beginners may find it abstract and should first acquire some basic knowledge of seal script and seals.
Does this edition preserve the original appearance of the book?
According to the publisher's note, this edition belongs to a series of Chinese classics that preserves the original appearance of the books and focuses on conserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture. The main text is primarily the original, suitable for readers who wish to engage with the source text; those needing detailed vernacular annotation should consult a separately annotated edition.
How does reading this book actually help someone learning seal carving?
It helps readers form a correct understanding of seal carving and grasp the relationship between seal script and engraving, so they do not focus only on knife technique while neglecting the foundation of writing. Although it provides no step-by-step diagrams, as theoretical guidance it lays a conceptual foundation for later copying and creation.
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About the author
吾丘衍
Author
Wuqiu Yan was a literary figure in ancient China, though public information about his life is limited: his dates of birth and death, native place, and nationality are not clearly recorded. Judging from the three works held in the collection, his writing touches on seal carving and the study of antiquities, scholarly textual criticism, and poetry, and is commonly classified under literary appreciation, Eastern philosophy, and culture. Xuegu Bian and Sanshiwu Ju are often regarded as reference texts for understanding ancient seal carving and the appreciation of antiquities; their contents lean toward practical guidance and evidential inquiry, written in a concise style with the air of instructing later students. Zhusu Shanzfang Shiji shows another side of his work, his poetic composition. On the whole, Wuqiu Yan's writings are modest in scale, yet they helped organize and pass on earlier artistic experience to later learners, and they offer reference value for the study of traditional literati aesthetics and introductory knowledge of seal carving.
