Seal Engraving: Engraving the Historical Era

Name: Seal Engraving: Engraving the Historical Era
ISBN: 9787565815669

李奎Shantou University Press · ChinaMar 2017

3.6

Word count: 41K words
Chapters: 21
ISBN: 9787565815669

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Summary

Structured around the morphological patterns of Chinese culture, this series comprises 10 sets, each bearing a richly connotative set title. Each set is further divided—by subject category or established convention—into 10 volumes, each with a distinctive main title and a clear,直观 subtitle. Every set forms its own system, while the volumes complement one another, expanding horizontally and deepening vertically to present a panoramic view of the vast scale of Chinese culture and a cohesive embodiment of its profundity. It may be called a comprehensive exposition of Chinese culture, making it highly suitable for general readers to read and collect, and equally suitable for libraries at all levels to acquire and display.

Editor's review

Seals: The Historical Eras of Seals is a thematic work focused on Chinese seal culture and its historical evolution. By systematically tracing the development of seals from the pre-Qin period to the Ming and Qing dynasties, the author Li Kui not only presents changes in form, material, and craftsmanship but also explores in depth the social functions, cultural symbolism, and artistic value of seals in different historical periods. The book's distinctive feature is that it goes beyond mere connoisseurship of artifacts, placing seals in multiple contexts—political institutions, literati life, and commercial activity—and revealing how these small objects became vehicles of power authentication, identity marking, and aesthetic expression. The book includes a large number of representative seal impressions and related historical documents, with images and texts corroborating each other, offering readers a fresh perspective for understanding the operating mechanisms and cultural mentality of ancient Chinese society. For enthusiasts of seal art, this book is a clearly organized introductory guide; for historical researchers, its analysis of official systems, documents, and material culture is also illuminating. Overall, this is a solidly documented work with diverse perspectives that helps readers perceive the profound heritage of Chinese history and culture through small details.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Enthusiasts with a strong interest in ancient Chinese seal art and seal-carving culture
Students and researchers in art history, archaeology, or history who need to understand the relationship between material culture and social institutions
Humanities readers who wish to deepen their understanding of traditional Chinese culture and literati life through specific artifacts
Design professionals in graphic design, typography, or logo design seeking inspiration from traditional seals

Not a good fit for

Readers looking for light, entertaining stories or novel plots
Pure craft enthusiasts seeking quick, simple practical guidance in seal carving

Reading tips

When reading, it is recommended to combine the images in the book and note changes in seal script, layout, and borders across different periods to appreciate the evolution of artistic style
It can be read alongside general Chinese history or dynastic histories to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between the seal system and the political and social structures of the time
For key chapters (such as Qin and Han official seals and Tang and Song literati seals), readers may slow down appropriately to savor the author's analysis of functional transformation and cultural meaning

About the publisher

Shantou University Press China · Founded in 1993

Shantou University Press builds its publishing program on university textbooks, teaching reference books, and academic monographs, while also accumulating a body of literary and cultural titles. Its catalog shows a concentration on foreign and classical literary classics, including Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, Wu Cheng'en's Journey to the West, Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, and Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, covering categories such as world classics and canonical works. Its author resources include major Chinese and foreign writers such as Tolstoy, Hugo, Dickens, Cervantes, Fabre, and Li Yu. Books on parenting and social sciences also appear in its list. Drawing on the regional culture of Chaoshan, the press balances teaching and research with cultural popularization, and Chaoshan culture titles are one of its emphases. Given limited public information, other details are not addressed here.

版权信息
前言
古老载体
商代的甲骨文与甲骨书
西周时期金文与青铜书
先秦时期石鼓文与石刻书
汉代以前的简牍与简牍书
先秦时期至汉代的缣帛书
版印纸书
东汉时期纸质书的流通
两晋南北朝时的写本卷轴
隋唐时期的雕版印刷术
印装插图
五代时期的刻书与插图
毕昇发明泥活字印刷术
宋代书装与辽金夏书业
元代书装形式与插图
书业盛况
明代的图书出版体系
明代书籍装帧与插图
清代的图书出版系统

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no prior knowledge of seals?

The book starts from basic concepts and historical context, includes numerous illustrations, and is written in relatively plain language, so it is suitable as a systematic introductory reading for beginners. However, it involves some specialized terminology and historical background, requiring readers to maintain a certain patience and focus.

How clear and numerous are the images in the book?

As a book exploring material culture, it provides a considerable number of seal impressions and rubbing images, which are essential for understanding the textual descriptions and stylistic evolution. The printing quality of the images is acceptable and can clearly show the main features, but those seeking ultra-high-definition detail appreciation may need to consult more specialized catalogues.

Is the book's main focus history or art?

The author adopts a perspective that gives equal weight to cultural history and art. The first half focuses more on tracing the historical evolution of seals in official and private functions, while the second half discusses more their artistic and literati-oriented development and aesthetic value. The two are organically combined without neglect of either.

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About the author

李奎 Author

Li Kui is a Chinese writer with a substantial body of work, though public information about him is limited: his nationality, dates of birth and death, and English name are not clearly recorded. Judging from the 133 works held in the collection, his writing centers mainly on documentary literature and war and military themes, narrating the history of the anti-Japanese base areas in Jin-Cha-Ji, Jin-Sui, Shandong and Shaan-Gan-Ning, and also covering Allied figures of the Second World War. At the same time he has written on art, culture, theory and finance, including books on the culture of Dunhuang statuary, the origins of sculpture, and scientific and technological inventions and discoveries. Overall, his works combine historical documentary value with popular knowledge, span a wide range of subjects, and are aimed at general readers, building up a body of writing on the spread of anti-Japanese war history and on art and cultural literacy.