Chines image seals (Xiaoxingyin)
Seals carved with images (xiaoxingyin) developed as
an off-shoot from the art of ' character-cutting on seals. They bear
likenesses of scenes in life or things in nature. The cutting of these
images come close in technique and skill to the art of engraving in
general; only it is done on the limited space of a small seal, hence
it is also called "miniature engraving".
The images that went on these seals were already many and varied in
the Han Dynasty. Old image seals are found to cover
a wide range of subjects, including the imaginary dragon and
phoenix, tiger crane and other animals which
are supposed to bring luck and good fortune Other images
are of the more familiar animals: chicken, duck, sheep, goose and fish
Still others portray activities such as dancing music playing, hunting
and livestock-raising. Every seal is a piece of art reflecting something
in the life of the artist's age and showing distinctive local and national
features. A great deal is contained in a space rarely exceeding the
size of a postage stamp.
Image-bearing seals, like seals in general may be cut in reliefer in
intaglio. With the development of the tourist industry in China,
shops at certain scenicsites have introduced souvenir seals
with images of the Great Wall, the Tang Dynasty
Tri-coloured pottery horse, etc. to be stamped on the albums
of the tourists-a traditional art put to practical
use, which is very well received.
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