A seal, also known as a stamp, is a stationery printed on documents to indicate identification or signature. Generally, a seal will be dipped in pigment before being printed. If it is not dipped in pigment and printed on a flat surface, it will appear uneven. It is a steel seal, some are printed on wax or lacquer, and are wax seals on envelopes. The production materials include metal, wood, stone, jade, etc.

Seal source:

1. "Historical Records·The Benji of Xiaowu": "The official name is changed to five characters on the seal."

2. "Book of the Later Han Dynasty· "The Biography of Gongsun Shu": "The seals of the world's shepherds and guardians were carved many times, and hundreds of officials were prepared."

3. Chapter 15 of "The Biography of Heroes of Sons and Daughters": "He learned the painting game again for the first time, and the outline The letter must be registered, and the recipient must use a seal."

Extended information

Types of seals:

1. Ancient Seal of the Warring States Period

Ancient Seal is the general name for pre-Qin seals. Most of the earliest seals we can see now are the ancient seals of the Warring States Period. The strokes of the seal are as thin as a hair, and they are all made of casting. Most of the ancient seals with white text are added with side bars or a vertical border in the middle, and the characters are cast or chiseled. The seal text of the official seal includes names such as "Sima" and "Situ", as well as various irregular shapes. The content is also engraved with auspicious words and vivid animal patterns.

2. Qin Seal

Qin Seal refers to the seal that was popular from the end of the Warring States Period to the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty. The text used is called Qin Zhuan. Judging from the calligraphy style, it is very similar to that of the Qin and Han Dynasties, Qin stone carvings and other writings, so it is easier to understand than the ancient writings of the Warring States Period. Qin seals are mostly chiseled in white, often with the character "天" on the surface, and are mostly square. The official seals used by low-level officials are about half the size of ordinary square official seals, and are rectangular in shape, with the character "日" in the pattern, which is called "half". Tongyin".

Baidu Encyclopedia-Seal