Keywords
Art History
Painting
A seal used for private as opposed to official matters. The use of shi-in became popular in China after the Tang and Song dynasties. They were made in many shapes and did not conform to specific standards. The following specific types of seals may be included as examples of shi-in: seimei-in 姓名印 for surnames and personal names, betsugō-in 別号印 for special and fancy names, kasei-in 家世印 for family generations, shitsumei-in 室名印 for the names of ateliers and hermitages, shūzō-in 収蔵印 for collections, kanshiki-in 鑑識印 for connoisseurship and *kaō 花押 for signature seals.