Expected available time: January 2027
Chinese seals for sale
Expected available time: January 2027
Total cost = Seal + Stone material + Shipping
Customized Chinese seal carvings for your name or phrase
Expected available time: June 2027
Each character: starting from $250
Total cost = Nonrefundable fee + Number of characters to be carved x Unit cost + Stone material + Shipping
Nonrefundable fee: Showing several versions of design drafts in emails before the actual carving of your preferred version starts. From $50 to $150.
Unit cost based on each character's "average" size:
Within 1 cm: $350
Between 1.1cm and 2 cm: $300
Between 2.1 cm and 3 cm: $250
Since the height and width of each seal script are usually different, "Average" = (Height + Width) / 2
Frequently used seals by Joshua Hough (Series I)
About 40 seals carved by Joshua 2021-2022
Adapting the past for modern use
古為今用 (gǔ wéi jīn yòng) translates to "making the past serve the present" or "adapting the past for modern use". It means utilizing historical knowledge, traditions, or wisdom to address current issues.
Aiming for the high mountains 志在高山
志在高山 (zhì zài gāo shān) translates to having high ambitions or loftiness of mind, often implying noble, grand goals, or a focus on lofty ideals (similar to "aiming for the high mountains"). It can be interpreted in English as:
- Aspiring to high peaks
- Having lofty ambitions/aspirations
- Mentality of the great mountains
Contextual usage:
- It signifies a character that is noble, grand, or far-reaching.
As you wish
Tba
Auspice from above
Tba
Auspice from above
Tba
Ask auspice not going away
Tba
The benevolent people will have long life
Tba
錫茲祉福
錫 Bestow/Confer: In archaic usage, it means to grant, confer, or bestow, often as a royal gift.
兹 (zī) generally means "this," "now," "here," or "at present". It is frequently used in formal or literary contexts to mean "hereby" or "this" (referring to the present situation).
祉福 means prosperity, happiness, blessedness, and joy. It is an archaic or formal noun often used to express well-wishing, conveying a sense of deep, fortunate happiness and overall well-being.
- 祉: Welfare, happiness
- 福: Bless
Forever lucky 長幸
長：恆久、長遠 long-term、永遠 forever
Great fortune 大吉
Excellent luck, great fortune, best fortune
大 Big, great
吉 Lucky, auspice
Longevity 壽
Tba
Longevity 壽
Carved tediously on Xiaoshan red stone, an extremely hard material than most other seal stones, this longevity character is different from other versions and can be found at https://www.shufazidian.com/s.php under the Seal Scripts category.
On the top of it, it looks like a totem. In the middle section, it looks somewhat like internal organs.
Longevity 壽
Tba
Longevity 壽 2021.12.28
Tba
Longevity 壽
Tba
Mountains are high and rivers are long
山高水長 (shān gāo shuǐ cháng) literally means "mountains are high and rivers are long," metaphorically describing noble character, profound virtue, or a lasting friendship/relationship. It represents something enduring, profound, or magnificent, often used to praise someone's lasting influence.
The four seal scripts are Oracle Bone Scripts, one of the early Chinese characters.
Plum blossoms as companions
梅花作伴 (méi huā zuò bàn) translates to "accompanied by plum blossoms" or "with plum blossoms as companions." It signifies finding friendship, comfort, or inspiration in the resilience of plum blossoms, which bloom in winter.
Plum fragrance room
梅香室 (Méi Xiāng Shì) can be translated based on context, typically as "Plum Fragrance Room," or "Plum Blossom Studio." It refers to a room or studio named after the fragrance of plum blossoms.
Unlimited longevity 2021.12.23
Tba
Within a pot 2022.1.5A
一壺之中 (yī hú zhī zhōng) generally translates to within a pot. It refers to the contents or space inside a kettle, jar, or flagon. A poetic or idiomatic reference to a "world inside a pot," referring to a private, magical, or serene space, often referencing a Taoist story.
Within a pot 2022.1.7B
一壺之中 (yī hú zhī zhōng) generally translates to within a pot.
Worry free
省心 (shěng xīn) means worry-free, peace of mind, hassle-free, or save worry/trouble.
You use your eyes as your ears, I use my hands to substitute my mouth
Tba
Seals carved by Han Yun in China (Series IV)
Tba
Tba
何氏千萬
"Family name 氏 + 千萬" is often used as a leading seal at the top right corner of the artwork as the artist is blessing the viewers. The blessing can be related to auspice, health, wealth, etc.
何 Hough (In Taiwan: Ho; in China: He)
氏 Family name
千 1000
萬 10000
武行僧
Martial arts devotee
三和居
Three harmony living
三 3
和 Harmony, peace
居 Living, house, dwelling
三和 is Joshua Hough's artistic name in memory of my three teachers of Chinese calligraphy and painting.
三和居 can be my studio name.
Artistic Name (雅號/号): A pseudonym or art name used to represent the artist's persona, poetic sensibility, or to distinguish from birth name.
Studio Name (堂號/堂): Specifically refers to the name of the artist's studio.
Find seal scripts by historical masters
Google Translate
Copy the translated Chinese character
Dictionary
Paste the translated character to search at https://shufazidian.com/s.php and make sure it is searching in the Seal Carving 篆刻 category.
Dictionary
以观书法 (Yiguan Shufa) is a comprehensive mobile application and digital platform dedicated to Chinese calligraphy, widely used as a dictionary and study tool. It offers over 4 million samples in various styles (running, cursive, clerical, seal, and regular) and seal engraving samples.
Paste the character and start searching at https://web.ygsf.com/ and make sure the Seal Carving 篆刻 category is selected.
The left panel shows the historical masters' names and their work.
In memory of my teacher and his teachers
It's widely believed that one's seal carving achievement depends largely on the calligraphy techniques and etymology studies.
資成都 Zi ChengDu 1946-2015
- Born in Chengdu of Sichuan Province
- Learned calligraphy and literature from over 20 renowned masters in National Taipei Normal University
- Became the first disciple of Li ZhongChi in Kaohsiung. Both of them are renowned for their studies in Chinese etymology which is the most important cornerstone of Chinese seal carving.
- As an all-around calligrapher of many styles, my teacher Tzu Cheng-Du (Zi Chengdu) won the first prize in national calligraphy competition in Taiwan.
李仲篪 Li ZhongChi 1923-2016
- Born in Hubei Province
- Won the first prize in national calligraphy competition in Taiwan
- Renowned for his Seal Scripts calligraphy
- Received mentorship from Xi NanXun
奚南薰 Xi NanXun 1915-1976
- Born in Jiangsu Province, China
- Passed the national Chinese medicine exam in Taiwan with the highest honor
- A renowned Seal Scripts calligrapher inheriting the spirits of Qing Dynasty masters
- Famous for his beautiful strokes of Seal Scripts