Strange Writing

[alenehan]

I have recently purchased this lacquer box and believed it to be Japanese. However, I have been advised that the writing is an old Chinese script. I was wondering what everyones thoughts were about it.

Thank You

Alex

[mr.stinky]

my laupo tells me this is old han script. han dynasty? like 200 b.c.-ish.

[Peng]

Not necessary, it's called seal script, it appeared since around the era of Zhou or Warring States.

[studentyoung]

Not necessary, it's called seal script,

Right.

it appeared since around the era of Zhou or Warring States.

All handwritings appeared before Qin Dynasty, like甲骨文(inscriptions of bones or tortoise shells), 钟鼎文(inscriptions on ancient bronze objects), 石鼓文（inscriptions on drumshaped stone blocks）and so on, are called 大篆 (large seal script). After Qinshihuang秦始皇 unified China in B.C.221, his prime mister Li si (李斯) simplified and unified 大篆 and made the new characters as the official handwriting, called 小篆 (small seal script).

The characters in the attached file look like 小篆.

Thanks!

[alenehan]

Thank youal for your help!!!

:lol: