Research On Wu Changshuo’s Seal-carving Inscriptions

Theories of Chinese ancient seal includes four parts consisting of sphragistics, collection of impressions of seals by famous seal engravers, poetry of seal theory and seal inscription which is one of the most important component of the theory of printing in ancient China seal theory. It also has great value in history and seal carving art. Wu Changshuo as the leading figure of “Shanghai school”, his carving style and sphragistics thought have significant influence both at home and abroad. However, the study on Wu Changshuo’s seal carving still remains in carving style, sphragistics, collection of impressions of seals by famous seal engravers,and so on. The study ignores the references of seal carving inscription, which has the most directly influence on his sphragistics thought.Wu Changshuo makes many seals during his lifetime for people who came from all directions. As he was located in many places, his seal-carving works with inscriptions have already stored everywhere that people do not know. In addition, inscription of the reference is hard to collect, which is one of the most important reasons for inscription references to have been neglected for long time. Mr. Han Tianheng carries resourceful codification and consolidation on part of Wu Changshuo’s seal inscriptions in Ancient Sphragistics Thesis, which is also not perfect.The article aims to collect and arrange the references on Wu Changshuo’s seal-carving inscriptions. It mainly consists of three aspects. The first part is to make a classification of Wu Changshuo’s seal inscriptions and find out the statement on sphragistics thought including seal-carving method, schools of seal-carving artist, seals aesthetic. The second part is to make a statement about aesthetic features of seal inscription. It mainly concentrates on style of rim inscriptions, line implication of sphragistics, the perfect combination of poetry calligraphy and painting, which are based on the composition, diction, way of cutting,cultural connotation. Compared with specific examples, the third part is to make a analysis based on the aspects including sphragistics thought, inscription style and enlightenment on the following generations. According to the analysis of the three perspectives, the thesis engages in taking the all perspectives into consideration, which especially chases for the aesthetic of sphragistics thought and inscription art together with showing the enlightenment on the generations.