What Is A Chinese Chop?
As in western society we use a pen to write our signature,
the chop is the Chinese signature stamp, a personal and
unique mark, used whenever a signature is needed.
The Chinese chop appeared during the Shang dynasty
(1766-1122 B.C.) and has remained a very strong part of
Chinese culture ever since.
Traditionally used with red ink, the Chinese chop is usually
made of stone or wood, and to a lesser extent metal or ivory.
A Chinese person will typically have three chops, one for
bank transactions, one for documents and legal matters, and
one for invitations and cards.
The chop is so highly regarded that a business deal can be
concluded as long as the persons chop is present, on the the
other hand if the person is there and the chop is not,
business cannot be done!
Chop Shapes
Typically the Chinese chop is either square or circular in shape.
The square chop symbolizes stability and would be commonly used on a contract or something legally
binding.
The circular chop is used by many Chinese businesses as the circular shape symbolizes money rolling in.
Notice that the characters on a Chinese seal can be either red or white, red writing is yin and white writing
is yang.
The Artists Chop
The chop is used by many Chinese artists as a signature, an
indelible stamp to mark their work. Chinese calligraphers also use this method to sign their work which
serves to enhance the artistry still further.
Many Chinese artists and calligraphers prefer to use a stone chop to "chop" their work as they say a stone
chop creates a much better mark on the fibrous paper that is used for artwork.
Above is a beautiful example of a Chinese chop made of Tian Yellowstone. Highly sought after and
notoriously hard to come by, this particular stone goes by the nickname "Stone King". The Chinese have a
saying: "Gold is easier to get than Tian Yellowstone.
Engraving The Chop
The Chinese chop usually contains between three and five characters, making the job of engraving the chop a highly
specialized skill. A calligrapher will often write the characters in the style required before the engraver begins the
intricate work of carving the chop. Good engravers are held in high regard and in constant demand.
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