Research on the Evolution of Jin Character Typesetting in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods

Author: Zhang Xiaoming, edited by the Shandong University Research Center for Calligraphic Art
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: Broadly speaking, inscriptions on metal vessels are referred to as "jinwen" (metal script). It can also be understood in two ways: First, from the perspective of the carrier, inscriptions on objects made of copper, iron, gold, silver, tin, aluminum, and other materials should all be included. However, generally speaking, "jinwen" specifically refers to inscriptions on bronze vessels, hence it is also known as "jijinwen" (inscriptions on auspicious metal vessels), "zhongdingwen" (inscriptions on bells and ding vessels), "yiqiwen" (inscriptions on ritual vessels), and "yiqiqieshi" (inscriptions on ritual vessel inscriptions). Second, from the perspective of time, such inscriptions existed during the Shang and Zhou dynasties and subsequent eras. However, in the study of epigraphy, "jinwen" generally refers to inscriptions from the pre-Qin period, specifically Shang and Zhou dynasty inscriptions. By analyzing the various phenomena of script evolution in spring and autumn and warring states period inscriptions, describing the developmental trajectory of script evolution, comparing them with phenomena such as oracle bone script, bamboo and silk script, and Qin small seal script, judging the characteristics of script evolution in the spring and autumn and warring states period, summarizing the patterns and reasons behind it, and striving to provide theoretical interpretations from multiple perspectives—such as the internal structure of Chinese characters, the nature of Chinese scripts, as well as social, political, economic, and ideological-cultural aspects.