Xiling Later Four Seal Collections

Author: Xu Dunde
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-02-01
Features: China's traditional art of seal carving developed during the Qianlong and Jiaqing years of the Qing Dynasty, giving rise to the Xiling Eight Masters, represented by Ding Jing. They had profound studies in epigraphy and, while absorbing the essence of Qin and Han seals, incorporated the rich nourishment of inscriptions from weights and measures, imperial decrees, mirror inscriptions, pottery bricks, cliff carvings, and stone inscriptions into their seal carving works. They broke away from the previous delicate and elegant style, establishing a robust and archaic Zhe School style that has influenced the field of seal carving for over two hundred years. Modern masters such as Zhao Ziqian, Wu Changshuo, Huang Shiling, and Qi Baishi were all deeply influenced by them. The Xiling Eight Masters are further divided into the First Four and the Later Four. The First Four are Ding Jing, Jiang Ren, Huang Yi, and Xi Gang, while the Later Four are Chen Yuzhong, Chen Hongshou, Zhao Zhichen, and Qian Song. Regarding the seal carving art of the First Four, Mr. Luo Zi has already provided a detailed discussion. Here, we will only briefly introduce the situation of the Later Four of the Xiling Masters.