<p>The general principle is from top to bottom, from right to left, but the format can be very flexible. For a four-character seal, there are 6 ways to arrange the characters (see picture). Seal calligraphers normally pick the arrangement that is most aesthetically pleasing, depending on how the character is written &amp; number of strokes per character, etc. The only exception I'm aware of is for 4-character seal, the 2nd format in the picture breaks the right-left rule but that particular one has a particular name called 回文布排 ie "anti-clockwise" that is for 4-character seal only. </p>

<p>picture taken from <a href="http://www.shufazidian.com/shuji/article.php?acid=21&amp;arid=41" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.shufazidian.com/shuji/article.php?acid=21&amp;arid=41</a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/uwdVs.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/uwdVs.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-18T10:21:49.983Z
Of course this is good, and @Stan has already linked to this page. I am still puzzled if the clockwise pattern used by the site in the description can be considered valid or not.
imrek
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-25T14:56:25.803Z
What about a 3 character seal? Some ten years ago I made myself a seal for my "chosen chinese name" Zhou Luyi: http://imgur.com/74lsQi6
Is it right? I made it most for fun and to stamp on some practice shufa sheets.
Luiz Borges
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-17T21:03:17.240Z
2015-08-17T21:03:17.240Z
Pam Liu
<p>This is correct. It is called 竖排. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-12T07:35:35.363Z
I know what 竖排 is, the proper question is if it is possible to write first from top to bottom, and then from *bottom to top*.
imrek
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-12T04:00:34.597Z
2015-07-12T04:00:34.597Z
shenkwen
<p>I am experimenting with an <a href="http://www.chinese-tools.com/tools/seal.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">online seal generator</a>, the text I have entered is 一千五百 and I have noticed that the characters go first from top right to bottom right, then <em>from bottom left to top left.</em> Is this correct?</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/nrgT1.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-10T07:45:31.320Z
NO. Here's a good introduction to [`章法`](http://www.shufazidian.com/shuji/article.php?arid=41&acid=21). You can go counterclockwise, but not clockwise, for rectangular stamps with 4 characters.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-10T09:47:33.737Z
@Stan thanks for the link. I used this site before, and ended up swapping the 3rd and 4th characters myself (using MS Paint).. These two seem to work better for my purpose. http://www.purpleculture.net/chinese-seal-generator/   http://www.chinesetools.eu/tools/chinese-seals/
leo4jc
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-10T09:51:26.177Z
@leo4jc Why not just swap the input?
imrek
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-10T10:16:47.830Z
@DrunkenMaster Haha.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-10T10:23:35.947Z
I didn't pay attention to the direction when I generated the graphics. Then I didn't have internet access when I was ready to use it! LOL
leo4jc
<writing><culture><seal>
Writing direction on seals
# Writing direction on seals

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-07-10)

I am experimenting with an [online seal generator](http://www.chinese-tools.com/tools/seal.html), the text I have entered is 一千五百 and I have noticed that the characters go first from top right to bottom right, then *from bottom left to top left.* Is this correct?

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/nrgT1.png)

**Tags:** writing, culture, seal

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: NO. Here's a good introduction to [`章法`](http://www.shufazidian.com/shuji/article.php?arid=41&acid=21). You can go counterclockwise, but not clockwise, for rectangular stamps with 4 characters.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 thanks for the link. I used this site before, and ended up swapping the 3rd and 4th characters myself (using MS Paint).. These two seem to work better for my purpose. http://www.purpleculture.net/chinese-seal-generator/   http://www.chinesetools.eu/tools/chinese-seals/  
> **username_0**: @username_2 Why not just swap the input?  
> **username_1**: @DrunkenMaster Haha.  
> **username_2**: I didn't pay attention to the direction when I generated the graphics. Then I didn't have internet access when I was ready to use it! LOL  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-08-17. Score: 5

The general principle is from top to bottom, from right to left, but the format can be very flexible. For a four-character seal, there are 6 ways to arrange the characters (see picture). Seal calligraphers normally pick the arrangement that is most aesthetically pleasing, depending on how the character is written & number of strokes per character, etc. The only exception I'm aware of is for 4-character seal, the 2nd format in the picture breaks the right-left rule but that particular one has a particular name called 回文布排 ie "anti-clockwise" that is for 4-character seal only.

picture taken from <http://www.shufazidian.com/shuji/article.php?acid=21&arid=41>
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/uwdVs.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/uwdVs.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Of course this is good, and @username_1 has already linked to this page. I am still puzzled if the clockwise pattern used by the site in the description can be considered valid or not.  
> **username_4**: What about a 3 character seal? Some ten years ago I made myself a seal for my "chosen chinese name" Zhou Luyi: http://imgur.com/74lsQi6 Is it right? I made it most for fun and to stamp on some practice shufa sheets.  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2015-07-12. Score: 0

This is correct. It is called 竖排.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I know what 竖排 is, the proper question is if it is possible to write first from top to bottom, and then from *bottom to top*.  

---

