印章约起源于商代,所用材料有铜、石料、骨料和木料等。早期的印章是用作家族的标志、地位的象征、饰物,佩带或用作封泥。在纸没有出现之前,公文或书信都写在简犊上,写好之后,用绳扎好,在结扎处放粘性泥封结,将印章盖在泥上,称为泥封,泥封就是在泥上印刷,这是当时保密的一种手段。 Seal originated in the Shang Dynasty, the materials used are copper, stone, aggregate and wood. The early seal was used as a symbol of the family, a symbol of status, ornaments, worn or used as a seal. Before the paper does not appear, the official documents or letters are written on a simple calf, written, with a good rope tied in the ligation of sticky mud seal, the seal covered in mud, called the mud seal, mud seal is in the Mud printing, this was a means of confidentiality at the time.