Many people in China have a personal name seal. Artists, scientists, collectors and intellectuals can own a complete set of name, recreational and studio seals. A seal well made of semi-precious stones can cost between 400 and 4000 yuan. Some seals were carved with square tunnels from the handle to the bottom, allowing a particular person to slip their own ink into the hollow and thus sign a document with their name and the name of the company (or office). These seals are usually kept in jitsuin boxes under high security, except during official ceremonies where they are displayed on extremely ornate stalls or in their boxes. In Japan, seals are commonly called Inkan (印鑑) or Hanko (判子). [6] Inkan is the most complete term; Hanko tends to refer to seals used in less important documents. The most popular writing style for government seals during China`s imperial era (from the Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty) is the nine-fold writing (九疊文; jiǔdiéwén), a highly stylized script that is illegible to the untrained. The material is usually a high-quality hard stone or, much less frequently, deer horn, soapstone or jade. It is sometimes machine-carved. When carved by hand, an intō (“seal engraving blade”), a mirror and a small special wooden vice are used. An intō is a flat chisel the size of a pencil, usually round or octagonal, and sometimes wrapped in string to give the handle a non-slip surface.
The intō is held vertically in one hand, the dot protruding from the fist to the side opposite the thumb. The price of new modern intō ranges from less than US$1 to US$100. Most Japanese also have a much less formal seal used to sign personal letters or initial changes in documents. This is what the commonly used term hanko refers to. They often show only one hiragana, kanji ideogram, or katakana character engraved in it. They are as often round or oval as they are square. Their size ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters wide (0.20 to 0.59 inches); Women tend to be small. Seals are still used for official purposes in a number of contexts. When picking up parcels or registered mail, the name seal serves as an identification, similar to a signature. In banks, the method of identification was traditionally also by a seal. Seals remain the usual form of identification on controls in mainland China and Taiwan.
Today, personal identification is often done by a handwritten signature accompanied by a seal imprint. Seals can be used as identification with signatures because they are difficult to forge (compared to falsifying a signature) and only the owner has access to his own seal. A mitome-in (認印) is a moderately formal seal typically used to sign mail deliveries, sign utility bills, sign internal company memos, acknowledge receipt of company internal mail, and other low-security daily functions. There are two types of sealing pastes, depending on the base material they are made of. The default color is vermilion (or lighter or darker shades of red), but other colors such as black, navy, etc. can be used for specific purposes. Most Koreans own their own dojang for the same reason it was originally used – to sign their name on an official document! You will find that everyone is different depending on your style and personal taste. Although signing your name is accepted in today`s society, the use of an official seal makes the document more authentic. In some situations, it is even required by law.
Plastic mitome-ins in popular Japanese names can be obtained in stationery stores for less than $1, although cheap stone ones are also very popular. Inexpensive prefabricated seals are called Sanmonban (三文判). Prefabricated stamps are not acceptable for commercial purposes. Mitome-in seals and small seals are usually stored in inexpensive plastic cases, sometimes with small amounts of red paste or a pad. While ingam is used in department stores, other dojangs are used for everyday purposes such as minor official transactions. Thus, most Koreans have more than two seals. This list is for a Korean Dojang (도장). A dojang is a traditional personal stamp/seal made of stone or wood that allows you to sign your name in hangul (Korean letters). They have been used in Korea since the second century BC. AD and are still widely used today. Most Koreans have a personal dojang to sign official documents.
But not just Koreans – foreigners can also get their own custom names on a beautifully designed stamp. Chinese emperors, their families, and officials used large seals known as xǐ (璽), later in bǎo (寶; “Treasure”), which corresponds to the Great Seals of Western countries. These were usually made of jade (although hardwood or precious metal could also be used) and originally had a square shape. They were changed to a rectangular shape during the Song Dynasty, but became square again during the Qing Dynasty. There are several places in Seoul where you can make your own Korean seal. I had the opportunity to participate in a cultural activity at the National Museum of Korea accessible to foreigners. You can learn about the history of the Injang and even carve one yourself with your own design or name. You don`t have to be an artist because there are experts to help you and answer your questions. Every Korean citizen has a personal seal that can be used in place of fingerprints and/or a signature. Koreans have preserved this tradition for many generations, despite the development of their society. Since January 2012, the Korean government officially allows the registration of handwritten signatures for important documents, but of course, it is still possible to use a personal stamp instead.
A certificate of authenticity is required for each hanko used in a major business transaction. Registration and certification of an Inkan can be done at a local municipal office (e.g. city hall). There, a person receives a “seal imprint certificate”, known as inkan tōroku shōmei-sho (印鑑登録証明書). In addition to chemical cleaning cloths, banks always provide ink pads or ink paste. Banks also offer small plastic sinks that look like small patches of artificial grass. These are attached to the countertops and used to rub the accumulated ink paste from the work surface of the customer`s joints. A ginkō-in (銀行印) is used specifically for banking; Ginkō means “bank”.
One person`s booklet contains an original imprint of the ginkō-in next to the seal of a bank employee.