Seal (East Asia)

As both seal stamp for the standardized leaving the name and the stamp are known in East Asia. Seal of the Chinese emperors are usually called xǐ玺.

The stamps are divided according to use into three groups: name seals ( usually square ), Signature Seal ( free forms ) and studio stamp ( rectangular), which were mainly used in ancient China. The cast of characters as outlined seal is termed cartridge.

Function of the seal

Seals have a high priority in East Asia. On the one hand they are used in Chinese painting and calligraphy as a signature, on the other hand they are a means of legitimation, which corresponds to the value of an original signature.

In Japan, South Korea, partly in Hong Kong and the Republic of China can today with such a name stamps, Japanese Inkan or Hanko, on the post, on the bench or in shops or similar authorities are settled. The imprint of the stamp name must be entered for certain legal transactions at the registration office. A company must register with the court their mark. The punches are manufactured by own stamp cutters. Even stamps that were provided with the same name and is cut by the same engraver, are never quite the same. To check the authenticity of a stamp a clerk will be printed in the middle, mostly diagonally, fold and place it on the imprint that is already stored in the file. The two halves should fit together exactly.

Since the owners or an outside person can afford signatures with a stamp, it must be especially protected against theft.

In mainland China, the name stamp have lost this function. Chinese authorities and companies today use mostly circular stamp; official stamp usually have a five-pointed star in the center. The name of the authority or the company is usually placed at the edge of the semicircle.

History

Proven seals have been used in China for the first time in 1324 BC. But could enforce such right, the seal only during the Zhou Dynasty ( 1122-256 BC).

At that time he was not just worn for reasons of prestige with them, often in the belt to sign as proof of identity, but as proof of authorization, as a sign of rank or office or. The seal was not so much for the person, but primarily for the position they held. Sat an officer retires or she died, was the seal - and so it is now often - to the successor. If a nobleman asked for an audience with the emperor, he usually showed his stamp of jade to prove his identity.

In the fall of a dynasty of the transition to the next dynasty was only legitimized when the successor held the seals of the previous emperor empire in his hands. Two specially appointed mandarins were needed to precisely set up a玺, a seal of the emperor, because the square seal having an edge length of 15 to 30 cm and consisted of sandalwood or bronze. Some of them were even gold plated.

With the invention of paper the name stamp gradually replaced the signature. The average person served and more often a seal. Today everyone owns a seal, even foreigners, and any transaction that requires a signature can only be completed if the seal is applied. Officially, you can even sign by hand, but for most people is a thing only by the seal of res judicata. The seal has become naturalized in much of East Asia, including Japan and Korea.

Shape and material

A seal can be square, rectangular, oval or round; it is also available in many other variations. It may have only 3 millimeters in diameter or 15 inches square in size. The stamp may jade, soapstone, horn, bamboo, copper, wood, plastic or ( illegal ) ivory be cut, depending on what it is used, and depending on the desired size of the purse of the buyer.

If a stamp used only rarely and for less important transactions, wood or plastic is usually sufficient. But if the owner wants to use his name stamp for a lifetime, he will likely choose from a more valuable and prettier material.

Most seals are simply a piece of material, on the flat underside of the name is mounted in stylized Chinese characters. A carving on the handle or at the top of the stamp makes it even more beautiful and valuable. Some seals are veritable works of art.

Species of seal

There are three different types of punches, depending on how the characters are cut into the stamp surface and appear what color these in the printed image:

Zhuwen

When Zhuwen stamp (朱 文, " red characters ") of free space is cut away at the characters while they remain elevated. When cast, the characters appear in red on a white background. Most Zhuwen - stamp are still a typically somewhat irregular and partly broken red border. In terms of the yin-yang philosophy of this type of stamp symbolizes the yang.

Baiwen

When creating a Baiwen stamp (白文"white characters " ), the characters incised directly into the punch face. These stay with the impression then white on red colored background. Baiwen stamp stand for the yin of the yin - yang.

Zhubaiwen Xiangjianyin

Zhubaiwen Xiangjianyin stamp (朱白文 相间 印"seal with red and white characters " ) are a combination of Zhuwen and Baiwen and included in the printed image both red as white characters.