Chinese seals, or “chops”, have a long history and are used for official purposes. They are traditionally carved from stone and used to stamp red ink onto documents and artwork. Chops can be simple or decorative, and may include the owner’s name, location, or other information. They are often passed down after death and are considered unique signatures that cannot be forged.
A Chinese seal is often colloquially called a “chop”. Ribs are actually used in several Asian nations, including Japan and Korea, but they have a long and well-established history in China. Some form of chop has existed in China for thousands of years, and many modern Chinese have their own personal chops, which are considered official seals just as they have been for centuries. Chops can also be adopted for use by Westerners, typically by transliterating a name into Chinese characters.
Traditionally, a chop is carved from stone such as jade or soapstone. The stone may be decorated with carvings and ornaments including gemstones, and is usually rectangular in shape so that it can be easily grasped. The bottom of the seal is pressed into a red paste before the seal is stamped onto documents and artwork. Depending on the stylistic choice of the engraver, the writing on the seal can appear in red ink, or it can be in white relief on a red background.
The design of a chop can be very simple, just including the owner’s name. In other cases, it may indicate the owner’s location, or it may provide other information, such as the name of the artist’s studio associated with the chop. Particularly decorated ribs may also include decorative carvings in the stamp, and some ribs can become quite large as a result. Many people have an assortment of chops, including name chops, artist chops, and ornamental chops. Typically, an ornament on the chop indicates the direction it should be facing.
In some cases, a chop will be passed down after death, as has historically been the case with Chinese imperial seals. The Forbidden City has a sizable collection of such historical pieces, though many have been lost through centuries of political change. This collection includes the chops of high-ranking court officials, along with seals used to signify appreciation or approval from the Emperor.
In some situations, only a cut will be accepted as a signature. This is especially true when dealing with documents, money and highly protected items, because a seal is a unique signature that cannot be forged unless stolen. Some Chinese will sign with a conventional signature and cut to meet all potential signature requirements.
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