Remarks Upon Thirty-five Examples Written By Wu Yan

The subject is brought up to study Thirty-five Examples written by Wu Yan , which is the foundation work in ancient Chinese sigillography .Both documents that are handed down from ancient times and the unearthed objects are used as the main study materials. Historical documents, philology and culture history used as theoretical support, a detailed study on the archaeological are conducted. Relative study achievements in other categories are used for reference. The writer conducted his indepth study from the relative questions from Thirty-five Examples and The Branch of Thirty-five Examples .In brief, the following work has been done:1. Try to further explain Mr. Wu Yan's thoughts on sigillograpgy and make the historical materials in modern times abundant. Mr. Wu didn't pursue official career but concentrated on sigillography study, so he had lots of outstanding works in his life. Thirty-five Examples mainly give a good expression to his seal achievements and thoughts. His back-to-the-ancients advocacy had great influence on seal creation at that time and the seal study and seal cutting later.2. To know well the academic values of Thirty-five Examples and evaluate its success and failure, the writer appraised examples from Thirty-five Examples one by one. Since the book was finished, each scholar in Ming and Qing Dynasty thought it classics .Especially in modern times, most scholars accepted it as infallible law without thinking its background, academic thoughts and values. Few people conducted intensive studies on its errors due to the times. These factors restrict the development of the sigillography healthily. The study is trying to confirm and modify the problems of the ancient seal theme on the basis of the unearthed objects. Also, the writer tries to elucidate the importance of reconsider the ancient seal theory. To use the unearthed objects as evidence is an important way to conduct seal study.3. The writer has made further collation and sorted out on the book Thirty-five Examples. There was a work called Collation Notes on Thirty-five Examples written by Yao Jinyuan in Qing Dynasty. But a few points from that book are open to question due to the times.4. The writer has made explanation of some disputed questions in seal history and come up with his own opinions.