A typesetting seal shop selling pre-made metal stamp components. Buyers can pick out the individual component of whatever word or message they wish to convey in their stamp.
A seal stamp, stamped with cinnabar red, next to artistic calligraphy spelling "如意".
An 印章 (yìnzhāng) is the Mandarin-Chinese name for a name seal or chop. Name seals are small items, commonly made of stone, plastic, wood, or metal, which, when imprinted with ink, leave an identifying mark. Seals are akin to signatures in that they are often used for the purposes of signing important documents such as bank transactions and contracts. Some parts of life, such as opening a bank account or getting a marriage license, are difficult to do in Taiwan without a name seal. Though personally signing something with a signature is becoming more widely accepted, name seals’ continued use is thanks to their difficulty of being forged. This is especially true with stone seals, in which the process of hand carving inevitably creates imperfections that differentiates the seal from others. In modern times, seal-stamping is often used in conjunction with signatures as a way to ensure two-factor authentication for important documents.
So where are some good places to get your own name seal? There are dozens of seal shops scattered around Taiwan, with many doubly acting as locksmiths or jewelry stores. While most seals are hand carved on demand, some seal shops have each character pre-made, and then buyers can pick out their individual Chinese characters. This latter process is called typesetting.
Besides considering material and handcarved vs typesetting when picking out a seal shop, buyers may also want to consider what purpose the seal is being used for. If a customer is simply purchasing a seal for business or paperwork reasons, then getting a wooden seal for 50-100 NT may be the most practical option. However, if the seal is being used for artistic or leisure reasons, buyers may want to look into getting specialized seal carvers or carving the seal themselves.
Depending on the customer’s preferences, most seals range from ~$1.5 USD all the way to $300 USD. But the price of the seal is not the only thing a buyer should consider. The type of seal paste used for their seal is arguably just as important. Traditionally, cinnabar red is the color of choice for most important seal-stamping, but many different colors are used as well. For a cheaper, more accessible option than traditionally made seal paste (which requires upkeep and care throughout its use) black or navy inks are also usable, usually wherever the seal was originally purchased.
Whether your seal is a way to conduct business, a form of artistic expression, or merely a treasured souvenir, the options are vast and easily personalizable for each potential customer. Happy shopping!
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