About
The character "篆" is structurally composed of the radical "竹" at the top, which semantically relates to bamboo, and the component "彖" below, functioning phonetically to indicate pronunciation. Etymologically, this construction suggests an initial association with writing or carving on bamboo slips, from which the term later specialized to denote the seal script employed in formal engraving and inscriptions. Its meaning subsequently broadened beyond the script style itself to also refer to the physical seals or stamps that are crafted using such calligraphic forms.
Etymology Hide
