Seal, also known as the Indian school, is China's unique traditional arts. Oracle is the first seal. To the Spring and Autumn Period, with the emergence of the seal, seal gradually became a specialized skill. Initially, the seal collectively referred to as "seal." Qin Shi Huang after provides that "seal" for the emperor dedicated, "said Prince Po above, the following officials said Prince and India." Since the end of the Han Jian'an to , mostly incised Bai, letters were used as a post-mortem letter.
To the Six Dynasties, Zhu engraved seal before. Tang, the seal has become an increasingly widespread use, in addition to name, the book has emerged in Cambodia and India, Indian art collectors, museum Zhaitang India. At the same time, idioms and poems engraved with the "non-essential text printed" the beginning of advent. This marks the beginning of this art as a creative art. In calligraphy, painting and other art works are also sealed, add taste. At this point, financial calligraphy, painting, sculpture as one of the seal is no longer simply as a symbol of power and inspection letter, and to become a science with the aesthetic value.
Texture of the original multi-purpose seal gold, silver, copper, jade, horns, ivory and other hard materials. Record from the Yuan dynasty painter India with Qingtian stone, seal stone will be popular. To the Ming and Qing period, the seal has been developed to a very high level, masters come forth in large numbers to form a variety of styles and genres. After new China was founded, to develop this art. Today, the types of seal materials and tools greatly increased, making the ordinary fans will have the time and effort involved in carving art.
篆刻，又称印学，是我国独特的传统艺术。甲骨文便是最早的篆刻。到了春秋时期，随着印章的出现，篆刻逐渐成为专门的技艺。开始时，印章统称为“玺”。秦始皇统一六国后，规定“玺”为皇帝专用，“亲王以上称宝，郡王以下官员曰印”。自汉建安之末至三国两晋，多为阴刻白文，用来封物作为信验。
至六朝，印章始刻朱文。唐之后，印章使用范围越来越广，除有姓名以外，又出现了书柬印，收藏鉴赏印、斋堂馆印等。同时，刻有成语和诗文的“闲文印”开始问世。这标志着这门技艺开始成为一种艺术创作。在书法、绘画等美术作品上也加盖印章，增添情趣。至此，融书法、绘画、雕刻为一体的篆刻不再单纯作为权力与信验标志，而成为一门具有审美价值的学问。
最初的印章质地多用金、银、铜、玉石、兽角、象牙等硬质材料。从元代画家王冕创用青田石刻印后，石刻印章便流行开来。到明清时期，篆刻已发展到相当高的水平，名家辈出，形成了多种风格与流派。新中国成立后，这门艺术得以发扬光大。到了今天，篆刻材料和工具种类大大增加，使得普通爱好者都能有时间和精力从事篆刻艺术创作。