What are some characteristics of Chinese seal script. How would I know that I'm looking at this form of calligraphy, and what does it look like?
Chinese seal script, also known as zhuan shu or dazhuan, is an ancient style of writing Chinese characters that evolved organically out of the Zhou dynasty bronze script and was adopted as the formal script for all of China during the Qin dynasty.

Here are some characteristics of this script:

Square and angular shapes: Unlike other Chinese scripts that use rounded and flowing strokes, seal script is characterized by square and angular shapes that give it a bold and powerful appearance.

Symmetry: The characters in seal script are often symmetrical, with each side mirroring the other. This symmetry gives the script a balanced and harmonious feel.

Vertical orientation: Seal script is traditionally written vertically, with the characters arranged in columns from top to bottom.

Small and dense: Because seal script was often carved onto small seals, the characters are typically small and densely packed. This makes the script appear intricate and detailed.

Fewer strokes: Compared to other Chinese scripts, seal script uses fewer strokes to create each character. This is because the script was primarily used for carving into seals, which required the characters to be simple and easy to carve.

To identify seal script, look for the square and angular shapes, the vertical orientation, the symmetry, and the small and dense characters. The script may also have a distinctive antique appearance, with worn edges and uneven lines. Some examples of famous works in seal script include the inscriptions on the ancient bronze vessels of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, as well as the seals and inscriptions of famous calligraphers throughout Chinese history.