Small Seal Script (小篆)

Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC) · Classical Chinese calligraphy guide

The first unified script of China — the elegant, symmetrical writing standardized by the First Emperor.

小篆

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History of Small Seal Script

Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC). Before 221 BC, each warring state wrote the same words in wildly different forms. After unifying China, Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered his chancellor Li Si to standardize writing — the result was Xiaozhuan (Small Seal Script), the ancestor of every later Chinese script.

Xiaozhuan was reserved for monumental, official use: steles, imperial edicts and bronze inscriptions. Its even, vertical, perfectly symmetric strokes made it the most formal script ever created in China.

Two thousand years later, seal script still appears in the carved "chop" seals (印章) that sign paintings, contracts and calligraphy — and it remains the most prestigious script for a personal name seal.

Masterwork: The Yishan Stele (峄山碑), carved in 219 BC and traditionally attributed to Li Si, is the definitive model of Small Seal Script calligraphy.

Representative Masters

• Li Si (李斯) — Chief minister of Qin; compiler of the unified seal script. Notable works: Yishan Stele (峄山碑), Taishan Stele (泰山刻石).

Formal Features of Small Seal Script

• Perfect vertical symmetry. Every character is centered on an invisible vertical axis, with left and right halves balancing like a mirror — the hallmark of seal script.
• Uniform, rounded strokes. All strokes are of near-equal thickness, drawn with an even, slow pressure and rounded ends; no sharp corners or angular turns.
• Tall, narrow proportions. Characters are slightly taller than wide, typically filling about 2/3 of a square grid, giving an upright, dignified silhouette.

Why Choose Small Seal Script for Your Chinese Name

Small Seal Script is the classic choice for name seals, formal certificates and elegant logos. A name rendered in Xiaozhuan reads as "classical China" — solemn, cultured and timeless.

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Other Calligraphy Styles

Han Clerical Script (汉隶) · Yuan Regular Script (元楷) · Semi-Cursive Script (行书) · Wild Cursive Script (狂草)

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