prompter: What are some characteristics of Chinese seal script. How would I know that I'm looking at this form of calligraphy, and what does it look like?

assistant: Chinese seal script, also known as "zhuan shu" or "dazhuan, is an ancient style of writing Chinese characters that evolved organically out of the Zhou dynasty bronze script and was adopted as the formal script for all of China during the Qin dynasty.

Here are some characteristics of this script:

Square and angular shapes: Unlike other Chinese scripts that use rounded and flowing strokes, seal script is characterized by square and angular shapes that give it a bold and powerful appearance.

Symmetry: The characters in seal script are often symmetrical, with each side mirroring the other. This symmetry gives the script a balanced and harmonious feel.

Vertical orientation: Seal script is traditionally written vertically, with the characters arranged in columns from top to bottom.

Small and dense: Because seal script was often carved onto small seals, the characters are typically small and densely packed. This makes the script appear intricate and detailed.

Fewer strokes: Compared to other Chinese scripts, seal script uses fewer strokes to create each character. This is because the script was primarily used for carving into seals, which required the characters to be simple and easy to carve.

To identify seal script, look for the square and angular shapes, the vertical orientation, the symmetry, and the small and dense characters. The script may also have a distinctive antique appearance, with worn edges and uneven lines. Some examples of famous works in seal script include the inscriptions on the ancient bronze vessels of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, as well as the seals and inscriptions of famous calligraphers throughout Chinese history.

assistant: According to the Smithsonian, Chinese seal script exists in two major forms, the form which is still used today is its later and more unified form, called small-seal script, was specifically devised as a standardized system of writing under the first emperor of the Qin dynasty and often used for official inscriptions on stone monuments.
Small-seal script is characterized by a symmetrical structure formed with thin, even lines executed with balanced movements, closer to the original oracle bones pictograms than modern Chinese. However, since it is considered an ancient script, it is rarely ever used if at all, even for Chinese calligraphy. It is most commonly used as the script for official seals/stamps.

assistant: Chinese seal script, also known as zhuan shu (篆书) or dà zhuàn (大篆), is an ancient style of calligraphy that was used primarily for inscriptions on seals and bronze vessels during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE). Here are some characteristics of Chinese seal script:

- Square shape: Unlike other calligraphy styles, seal script characters are typically square in shape, with straight, angular lines and sharp corners.
- Seal-like appearance: As the name suggests, Chinese seal script is designed to resemble the impressions made by a seal. Characters are carved or engraved onto a stamp, which is then used to make an impression in ink.
- Simplified strokes: Chinese seal script is highly stylized, with many characters featuring simplified, abbreviated strokes. This makes the script difficult to read for those unfamiliar with it.
- Elongated strokes: Some characters in Chinese seal script feature elongated strokes that extend beyond the square shape of the character.
- Ancient origins: Chinese seal script has a long and ancient history, dating back over 3,000 years to the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE).

If you are looking at Chinese seal script, you will likely notice the square shape of the characters, along with the angular, stylized strokes. The characters may also appear somewhat abstract or difficult to read, due to the simplified strokes and ancient origins of the script.