also: かともじ
noun
ancient seal-script character; tadpole script character
Refers to characters in an ancient Chinese seal script (蝌蚪文) whose strokes resemble tadpoles. A historical and calligraphic term; not used in everyday language.
See also: 篆字
蝌蚪文字は篆書の一種で、筆画が太く丸みを帯びている。
Tadpole script is a type of seal script with thick, rounded strokes.
この石碑には蝌蚪文字が刻まれている。
This stone monument is inscribed with tadpole-script characters.
篆字 is a broader term for seal script; 蝌蚪文字 is a specific style within seal script characterized by tadpole-like strokes.
From Chinese 蝌蚪文 (kēdǒuwén), literally 'tadpole script', referring to the resemblance of the strokes to tadpoles. The Japanese reading かともんじ (or かともじ) is the on'yomi of the kanji.