Small seal script: Difference between revisions
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| w2 = Chʻin<sup>2</sup>-chuan<sup>4</sup> | | w2 = Chʻin<sup>2</sup>-chuan<sup>4</sup> | ||
| l2 = Qin seal | | l2 = Qin seal | ||
|vie = Tiểu triện | |||
|chuhan = 小篆 | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{Table Hanzi}} | {{Table Hanzi}} | ||
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== History == | == History == | ||
During the [[Eastern Zhou]] dynasty ({{circa|771}}{{snd}}256 BC), local varieties of [[Chinese character]] forms had developed across the country, producing the 'scripts of the six states' ({{lang|zh|六國文字}})—which were later collectively referred to as [[large seal script]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seal Script |url=https://www.cityu.edu.hk/lib/about/event/ch_calligraphy/seal_eng.htm |access-date=2023-09-28}}</ref> This variance was considered unacceptable by the | During the [[Eastern Zhou]] dynasty ({{circa|771}}{{snd}}256 BC), local varieties of [[Chinese character]] forms had developed across the country, producing the 'scripts of the six states' ({{lang|zh|六國文字}})—which were later collectively referred to as [[large seal script]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seal Script |url=https://www.cityu.edu.hk/lib/about/event/ch_calligraphy/seal_eng.htm |access-date=2023-09-28}}</ref> This variance was considered unacceptable by the rising [[Qin dynasty]] (221–206 BC), who saw it as a hindrance to timely communication, trade, taxation, and transportation, as well as being a potential vector for fomenting political dissent.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Galambos |first=Imre |year=2004 |title=The Myth of the Qin Unification of Writing in Han Sources |jstor=23658631 |journal=Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae |volume=57 |issue=2 |pages=181–203 |doi=10.1556/AOrient.57.2004.2.2 |issn=0001-6446}}</ref> Around 220 BC, [[Qin Shi Huang]] ordered a systematic standardization of the country's weights, measures, and currency, as well as its writing system. Character forms which differed from those used by Qin scribes were discarded, with the Qin forms becoming standard across the entire empire.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Diringer |first=David |title=The book before printing: Ancient, Medieval and Oriental |publisher=Dover |year=1982 |isbn=978-0-486-24243-9 |location=New York}}</ref> | ||
== Standardization == | == Standardization == | ||
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== Encoding == | == Encoding == | ||
The small seal script was initially proposed for inclusion in [[Unicode]] in 2015. The 723-page proposal lists many of the best-known examples of Qing-era commentary images.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2015/15281-n4688-small-seal.pdf|title=Proposal to encode Small Seal Script in UCS | publisher=Working Group|date=2015-10-20|access-date=2016-01-23}}</ref> {{ | The small seal script was initially proposed for inclusion in [[Unicode]] in 2015. The 723-page proposal lists many of the best-known examples of Qing-era commentary images.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2015/15281-n4688-small-seal.pdf|title=Proposal to encode Small Seal Script in UCS | publisher=Working Group|date=2015-10-20|access-date=2016-01-23}}</ref> After several revisions of this proposal,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.unicode.org/wg2/docs/n5344R-SmallSealProposal.pdf |title=Proposal to encode the Small Seal Script in UCS, revised (document ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 2/WG2 N5344R) |collaboration=Small Seal Working group, edited by Michel Suignard |editor=ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 2/WG2 |date=2025-10-07 |access-date=2025-11-23}}</ref> the Unicode Technical Committee accepted the script to be included in Unicode version 18.0 scheduled to appear in September 2026, using the name “Seal script”.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2025/25226.htm |title=Draft Minutes of UTC Meeting 185 |editor=Unicode Technical Committee |at=D.1 Section 1.2 “Seal Script” |date=2025-11-11 |access-date=2025-11-23}}</ref> | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Latest revision as of 19:08, 25 November 2025
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The small seal script is an archaic script style of written Chinese. It developed within the state of Qin during the Eastern Zhou dynasty (771–256 BC), and was then promulgated across China in order to replace script varieties used in other ancient Chinese states following Qin's wars of unification and establishment of the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) under Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China.
History
During the Eastern Zhou dynasty (c. Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Snd256 BC), local varieties of Chinese character forms had developed across the country, producing the 'scripts of the six states' (Script error: No such module "Lang".)—which were later collectively referred to as large seal script.[1] This variance was considered unacceptable by the rising Qin dynasty (221–206 BC), who saw it as a hindrance to timely communication, trade, taxation, and transportation, as well as being a potential vector for fomenting political dissent.[2] Around 220 BC, Qin Shi Huang ordered a systematic standardization of the country's weights, measures, and currency, as well as its writing system. Character forms which differed from those used by Qin scribes were discarded, with the Qin forms becoming standard across the entire empire.[3]
Standardization
The standardized use of small seal characters was promulgated via the Cangjiepian primer compiled by Qin Shi Huang's ministers—namely his chancellor Li Si. This compilation, which was claimed to include 3,300 characters, is no longer extant, and is known only through Chinese commentaries over the centuries. Several hundred characters from fragmented commentaries were collected during the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), and recent archeological excavations in Anhui have uncovered several hundred more on bamboo strips, showing the order of the characters.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". However, the script found was not the small seal script, as the discovery dates back to the Han period.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Encoding
The small seal script was initially proposed for inclusion in Unicode in 2015. The 723-page proposal lists many of the best-known examples of Qing-era commentary images.[4] After several revisions of this proposal,[5] the Unicode Technical Committee accepted the script to be included in Unicode version 18.0 scheduled to appear in September 2026, using the name “Seal script”.[6]
References
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External links
- Topical Document List: Seal Script, Unicode
- Lookup of seal script is available through some online dictionaries. See the KU libraries guide for examples.
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