Small seal script: Difference between revisions

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'''Small Seal Script''' ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]: {{lang|zh|{{linktext|小篆}}}}, ''xiǎozhuàn''), [[Wade-Giles|formerly]] [[romanization of Chinese|romanized]] as '''Hsiao-chuan''' and also known as '''Seal Script''', '''Lesser Seal Script''' and '''Qin Script''' ({{lang|zh|秦篆}}, ''Qínzhuàn''), is an archaic form of [[Chinese calligraphy]]. It was standardized and promulgated as a national standard by [[Li Si]], [[Chinese chancellor|prime minister]] under [[Shi Huangdi]], the First Emperor of [[Qin dynasty|Qin]].

Before the [[Qin's wars of unification|Qin conquest of the six other major]] [[Warring States period|warring states]] of [[Zhou dynasty|Zhou China]], local styles of [[Chinese character|characters]] had evolved independently of one another for centuries, producing what are called the "Scripts of the Six States" ({{lang|zh|六國文字}}), all of which are included under the general term "[[Large Seal Script|Great Seal Script]]". Under one unified government, however, the diversity was deemed undesirable as it hindered timely communication, trade, taxation, and transportation, and as independent scripts might be used to represent dissenting political ideas.

Hence, Emperor [[Qin Shi Huang]] mandated the systematic unification of weights, measures, currencies, etc., and the use of a standard writing script. Characters which were different from those found in Qin were discarded, and the Qin's small seal characters became the standard for all regions within the empire. This policy came in about 220 BC, the year after Qin's unification of the Chinese states.<ref name="Diringer">[[Diringer, David]]. [1982] (1982). ''The Book Before Printing: Ancient, Medieval, and Oriental.'' Courier Dover Publications. {{ISBN|0-486-24243-9}}.</ref>