Introduction

Hong Kong has played an integral role in the development of the Lingnan seal community for a significant amount of time. As early as the 1930s and 1940s, the number of migrant scholars, epigraphers and seal carvers in Hong Kong dramatically increased as a result of the ongoing civil war in Mainland China. These artisans and scholars often either stayed in Hong Kong briefly, settled permanently, or regularly travelled between Guangdong and Hong Kong. Through teaching, cultural gatherings, publishing, organising exhibitions and establishing societies, these participants laid the cornerstone for the development of the Hong Kong seal community.

Despite this, there has not yet been any significant research regarding the history of seal carving in Hong Kong – only a very small number of scholars have conducted research in this area, and only several articles have been written about it in the past century. In recent years, scholars have begun to categorise and recognise the importance of the development of Guangdong sigillography, and the result has drawn more attention to this art form and its significance in Guangdong. In fact, Hong Kong has played an integral role in the history of Lingnan seal carving.