Editing Chinese characters (section)

=== Qin unification and small seal script ===
{{Main|Small seal script}}
{{mim
| header = Small seal script
| width = 60
| image1 = 天-seal.svg
| image2 = 馬-seal.svg
| image3 = 旅-seal.svg
| image4 = 正-seal.svg
| image5 = 韋-seal.svg
| alt1 = 天
| alt2 = 馬
| alt3 = 旅
| alt4 = 正
| alt5 = 韋
}}
Following [[Qin's wars of unification|Qin's conquest]] of the other Chinese states that culminated in the founding of the imperial [[Qin dynasty]] in 221&nbsp;BCE, the Qin small seal script was standardized for use throughout the entire country under the direction of Chancellor [[Li Si]].{{sfn|Boltz|1994|p=156}} It was traditionally believed that Qin scribes only used small seal script, and the later clerical script was a sudden invention during the early Han. However, more than one script was used by Qin scribes—a rectilinear vulgar style had also been in use in Qin for centuries prior to the wars of unification. The popularity of this form grew as writing became more widespread.{{sfn|Qiu|2000|pp=104–107}}