Seal carving dates back to the Spring and Autumn period in China (770-476BC), when the tradition of signing documents with personalised engraved stone seals dipped in vermilion cinnabar paste began.
[Deut. 5:6-10; RSV] Verse 7 forbids the worship of other gods, while verses 8-9 forbid the making of graven (carved) images that would be worshipped as gods, i.e. idols. Now worshipping statues ...