Chinese seal carvings are an ancient art that combines calligraphy and engraving. Chinese seal carvings, or Chinese chops, evolved from a practical need to be able to affix a signature to documents and carvings. But these custom stamps became an art form as well as a practical devise, with its intricate Chinese calligraphy and beautiful carvings.
Chinese seal carving started in ancient Chinese times, during the Qin dynasty (221-210 B.C). The Chinese seal carving was originally used as an imperial seal – a seal used by the emperor to, in effect, put his stamp of approval on documents. The royal seal was called the Xi (which can literally be translated into “the imperial seal”). These Chinese seal carvings were used only by royalty.
After this dynasty, another type of seal developed. This Chinese seal carvings were used for non-official use by private individuals as a personalized stamp. These non-official custom stamps were called Yin. During the Tang Dynasty, (618 – 907 A.D.) the name for the seals changed, in part due to a superstition about the similarity in pronunciation to another Chinese word which meant death, during this period Chinese signature stamps became referred to as Bao.
Chinese seal carvings became a symbol of power and authority. The custom stamp was used to denote proof of commercial trading. The carving was used extensively by important business owners and members of the imperial council, the ruling class of people.
The Chinese carved seals developed as Chinese characters developed and changed, and as the recording of characters changed. Originally, Chinese characters were inscribed on ivory, bones and tortoise shells. Later, characters were inscribed on metal. Chinese seal carvings were (and are still) carved from ivory, jade and other semiprecious stones. Other materials included gold, silver, rhinoceros horn, magnet, and tiles.
As writing methods changed, the materials for recording writing changed as well. Writing became inscribed on bamboo strips. To ensure confidentiality, the bamboo strips were put inside a wooden trough which was sealed with mud. The personalized stamps were used to press into the mud, making it obvious if someone had broken the seal to read the documents. Because the mud was put onto the wooden trough in a very thick layer, the custom stamp had to be carved deeply to make a clear and distinct stamp. The stamps used to create characters on pages were much finer and sharper engravings than the personalized stamp.
The Chinese cultural is a culture that reveres its artists. Talented artists (poets, painters, and even calligraphers) are acknowledged for their skills in a way that is uncommon in many other cultures. It is common in most cultures to see artists sign their work; however, Chinese artists adapted the carved seal to use the seal to mark their art. These artists created unique seals that became identified as their Chinese signature stamp. Every time they stamp their work with the seal, they are putting their signature to their work. There is a great deal of pride in finding a seal that is a unique and artistic expression of their work.
Today Chinese carved seals are still used. Many business people use specially designed seals as their Chinese name stamp, to indicate their reliability as business people and to confirm their identity.
Uchongaji wa muhuri wa Kichina ni sanaa ya kale inayohusisha uchoraji na uchongaji. "Kichina ""chops"" ni chapa ya mviringo, ambayo ni muhimu kwa ajili ya kuunganisha saini kwenye hati na michoro." Lakini stempu hizo za desturi zikawa aina ya sanaa na pia kifaa cha vitendo, zikiwa na maandishi ya Kichina yenye kutatanisha na michongo maridadi. Ufundi wa kuchonga muhuri ulianza katika enzi za kale za China, wakati wa nasaba ya Qin (221-210 KK). Mchoro wa muhuri wa Kichina mwanzoni ulitumiwa kama muhuri wa kifalme - muhuri uliotumiwa na maliki, kwa kweli, kuweka muhuri wake wa idhini kwenye hati. Muhuri wa kifalme uliitwa Xi (ambayo inaweza kutafsiriwa kihalisi kuwa <unk> muhuri wa kifalme<unk>). Michongo hiyo ya muhuri wa Kichina ilitumiwa tu na watu wa kifalme. Baada ya nasaba hiyo, aina nyingine ya muhuri ilitengenezwa. Mchoro huu wa muhuri wa Kichina ulitumiwa kwa matumizi yasiyo ya rasmi na watu binafsi kama muhuri wa kibinafsi. Stempu hizo zisizo rasmi ziliitwa Yin. Wakati wa utawala wa Tang (618-907 KK), jina la muhuri lilibadilika, kwa sehemu kwa sababu ya ushirikina kuhusu kufanana kwa matamshi na neno lingine la Kichina ambalo lilimaanisha kifo. Mchoro wa muhuri wa Kichina ulikuja kuwa ishara ya nguvu na mamlaka. Stempu ya desturi ilitumiwa kuonyesha uthibitisho wa biashara ya kibiashara. Mchongo huo ulitumiwa sana na wamiliki wa biashara mashuhuri na washiriki wa baraza la kifalme, jamii ya watu wenye kutawala. Muhuri wa Kichina uliotengenezwa kwa mbao ulibadilika kadiri herufi za Kichina zilivyobadilika na kubadilika, na jinsi herufi zilivyorekodiwa ilibadilika. Mwanzoni, herufi za Kichina ziliandikwa kwenye pembe za tembo, mifupa, na makombora ya kasa. Baadaye, herufi ziliandikwa kwenye chuma. Michongo ya muhuri wa Kichina ilichongwa (na bado inachongwa) kutoka kwa pembe za tembo, jade na mawe mengine ya thamani. Vifaa vingine vilitia ndani dhahabu, fedha, pembe ya punda-milia, sumaku, na vigae. Kadiri mbinu za kuandika zilivyobadilika, ndivyo vifaa vya kurekodi maandishi vilivyobadilika pia. Maandishi yaliandikwa kwenye vipande vya mianzi. Ili kuhakikisha usiri, vipande vya mianzi viliwekwa ndani ya mtungi wa mbao uliokuwa umefungwa kwa matope. Stempu hizo zilitumiwa kuifunga ndani ya matope ili kugundua ikiwa mtu fulani alikuwa amevunja muhuri ili kusoma hati hizo. Kwa kuwa matope yaliwekwa juu ya mtungi wa mbao katika tabaka nene sana, muhuri wa desturi ulihitaji kuchongwa kwa kina ili kutokeza muhuri ulio wazi na wa pekee. Stampu zilizotumiwa kutengeneza herufi kwenye kurasa zilikuwa michoro mizuri zaidi na kali kuliko stempu ya kibinafsi. Utamaduni wa Kichina ni utamaduni ambao unawaheshimu wasanii wake. Wasanii wenye vipaji (washairi, wachoraji, na hata waandishi wa maandishi) wanatambuliwa kwa ustadi wao kwa njia ambayo si ya kawaida katika tamaduni nyingine nyingi. Ni kawaida katika tamaduni nyingi kuona wasanii kusaini kazi zao; hata hivyo, wasanii wa Kichina walibadilisha muhuri uliochongwa kutumia muhuri ili kuashiria sanaa yao. Wasanii hao waliunda mihuri ya kipekee ambayo ilitambuliwa kuwa muhuri wao wa Kichina. Kila mara wanapofunga muhuri wao, wanaweka saini yao kwenye kazi yao. Kuna fahari kubwa katika kupata muhuri ambao ni usemi wa kipekee na wa kisanii wa kazi yao. Leo, mihuri ya Wachina iliyokatwa bado inatumiwa. Wafanyabiashara wengi hutumia muhuri maalum kama muhuri wa jina la Kichina, kuonyesha kuegemea kwao kama wafanyabiashara na kuthibitisha utambulisho wao.