‘题款’ (tí kuǎn) refers specifically to the written inscription added by the artist on a traditional Chinese painting or calligraphy scroll. It typically includes the title of the work, the creator’s name, the date of creation, and sometimes poetic commentary or seals. The character 题 (tí) means ‘to inscribe’ or ‘to write a title’, while 款 (kuǎn) originally meant ‘a clause’ or ‘section’, but in this context denotes a formal signature or colophon — a distinctive feature of classical East Asian art documentation.

This practice reflects deep cultural values: humility, artistic lineage, and harmony between image and text. Unlike Western signatures placed discreetly in corners, a Chinese 题款 is an integral compositional element — carefully positioned for balance and meaning. It appears most frequently on hanging scrolls, handscrolls, and album leaves, especially those depicting landscapes, birds-and-flowers, or scholarly themes. Mastery of 题款 requires not only calligraphic skill but also literary knowledge and aesthetic judgment.