Research On Qilu Seal Cutting During The Kangxi And Qianlong Periods Of The Qing Dynast

After the mid-Ming Dynasty,the exploration of the art of the seal carving by figures like Wen Peng and He Zhen stimulated the vigorous development of that of literati,undoubtedly propelling the progress of its entire art form.However,during this time,the seal cutting industry in Qilu region(Shandong Province)was relatively stagnant until the rise of the Zhangs’ seal carvers in Anqiu,gradually breaking this situation and exerting a profound influence on future generations.The prosperity of the seal carving in Qilu is an indispensable part in the history of Chinese seal carving.This study takes the Qilu seal carving during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods as a starting point,conducting a detailed investigation into the representative seal engravers,seal styles,and seal art theories,with the aim of comprehensively summarizing the value and significance of Qilu seal carving art during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods.In this paper,a method of combining historical materials with images will be adopted to outline the seal carvers and their activities in Qilu region during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods.Firstly,it expounds on the social environment,influencing factors,and the group of seal carvers in the development of the art of Qilu seal carving,laying the foundation for further research on the styles of seal carving,the seal art theories,and other related issues.Secondly,focusing on the Zhangs’ carvers,Gao Fenghan,Zhu Wenzhen,Nie Jimao,Gui Fu,and Guo Weiji,the study analyzes their seal cutting techniques,styles,and explores the inheritance and changes in their seal cutting styles.Through the study of the development and stylistic evolution of the art of Qilu seal carving during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods,it is discovered that their techniques experienced a transition from the "contemporary style" to the "seal style of Qin Dynasty and Han Dynasty".Furthermore,the study places particular emphasis on a systematic analysis and summary of Gui Fu’s “Miu Zhuan Fen Yun” and Kong Jihao’s “Experience in Seal Carving” in terms of their theories on seal art.Gui Fu’s work as a dictionary for seal carving,focuses not only on the seal itself but also provides a philological perspective,possessing significant historical value and academic significance.Kong Jihao’s “Zhuan Lou Xin De” is a comprehensive work on seal art,covering overall thoughts,creation,materials,tools,and beyond.Although it includes some previous viewpoints,it also presents its own insights,deserving recognition.Finally,through the aforementioned research,this study extracts numerous enlightenments for promoting seal cutting practice from their various seal cutting techniques and seal art theories,enriching the practice of that.In conclusion,these outstanding achievements in seal art created by the seal carvers in Qilu region are not only products of their era’s exploration of seal art but also precious wealth bestowed by history to future generations.They hold important reference value for seal carving and propel the whole seal carving community in Qilu region into a new stage,further promoting the prosperity of Qilu seal carving art,solidifying its position within regional seal carving,and making Qilu seal carving an indispensable part of in the history of Chinese seal carving.