Seal carving

Author: Deng Sanmu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: The Art of Seal Carving is the posthumous work of Deng Sanmu, a renowned seal carver and calligrapher (1898–1963). He dedicated his life to the art of seal carving and calligraphy, and this book presents his insights and experiences summarized from decades of practice. The text discusses and introduces the origins of seals, various schools of seal carving, composition, and carving techniques, providing detailed yet concise explanations. It particularly offers unique insights into the analysis of composition. Moreover, the book is richly illustrated with elegant calligraphy, making it not only a specialized treatise on seal carving theory and techniques but also a valuable model for practicing seal carving and calligraphy. The Art of Seal Carving was initially drafted as Deng Sanmu’s lecture notes in the 1930s, later revised and expanded to become the final version. It is a comprehensive summary of his lifelong experience in seal carving and an authoritative work indispensable for studying the art of seal carving. The original lecture notes were written in Yan-style regular script. To accommodate modern readers while preserving the original style, we have added a horizontally printed version, which accompanies the facsimile edition, hoping to be of assistance to readers.