双语印章史开栏导语在杭州即将举办G20之际，我们征得孙慰祖先生同意，谨以他于2010年著述出版的国家出版基金项目《中国印章-历史与艺术》为蓝本，推出本栏目，以中英双语形式节选其中的部分内容向世界推介中国篆刻这一世界非遗代表作项目，同时展现杭州作为印学之城的文化魅力。
印章用作自然人或者机构、官吏的凭信，在古代历史上并非中国特有的现象。美索不达米亚、古埃及和大印度河流域都存在早期使用印章的历史。自商代晚期中国印章的早期形态出现以来，凭信功能特异化方向的发展和印章制度体系发育较为充分，演进和使用一致没有中断。中国印章的另一特点是始终以文字为表义方式。与中国书法艺术形成原理相同，由于文字形态的艺术元素与表义功能结合，衍生出一种独立而具有民族特色的艺术样式。因此，当作为凭信的印章在现实生活逐渐淡出，中国篆刻艺术仍然呈现蓬勃发展的生命力。 The use of seals in ancient times as authentication of individuals, institutions or officials was not unique to China: Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt and the Indus River Valley all used seals at an early stage of history. Since the early form of Chinese seals appeared in the late Shang Dynasty, the specialized functions of seals and the seal system have developed fully, and the evolution and use of seals have never stopped. Another characteristic of Chinese seals is use of Chinese characters as symbols of meanings. On the same principle as the formation of Chinese calligraphy, the artistic element of the characters fused with the functional element of denoting meaning produced an independent but uniquely Chinese art form. And so, though seals as a means of authentication gradually faded form use, the art of seal engraving developed and flourished with great vitality |
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