Where to purchase a Chinese chop/seal?
 

Hi fellow fodorites,

One thing I would like to puchase while in China (I’m heading there in 2 weeks!) is a Chinese chop/seal and the red seal paste. Is there any particular area where I can have one made while in Beijing, Shanghai, or any other place I’ll be visiting? (Hangzhou, Xian, Chengdu, Yangshuo, Hong Kong).

What kind of prices could I expect? My Mom has one from years ago when we lived in Japan.

Thanks!

Monica ((F))

Try: http://www.sealstones.com/

((f)) ((f))

Thanks Hanuman, but I'm looking to purchase while in China, afterall, that's part of the experience. ;)

Monica ((F))

Monica, in my experience, you'll see them offered everywhere... you can't avoid them! Custom carving can be done within a couple of hours.

Hi Kathie, thanks. What about pricing? Are they expensive?

Monica ((F))

No, they are not expensive. It's been so long since I last priced them, I don't have current info for you. I'm sure someone else can give you a price range.

Hi Monica, you must be getting excited, not long now before you sip from the Chinese cup!

Re the personalised chops, an excerpt from my t.r. thread last year:

"This was at Mutianyu and as I was waiting at the last stall in market alley there for DH to return from his 'mission', I saw just what you (Shanghainese) had recommended as excellent gifts - chops! It was the only thing I really wanted, and knew the approx cost from your post. It was the only time I bargained ... and paid 50 yuan each. The craftsman who had sculpted most of the wares on display also engraved the chops with personal names in Chinese, and I documented the whole procedure with lots of pics.

... will include the pics as part of the pressie, to add to the impact of Your Personal Chop Engraved by a Craftsman at the Great Wall of China. What could be better?"

I recall, at the same stall, various sizes of containers with the red paste as well, and choices of fancy, satin-lined presentation boxes for the seals.

I'll check my pics and see if I can post them here.

Thanks FurryTiles, I'll keep my eye out when at the Wall.

Monica ((F))

I don’t know what order you are tavelling in, but as mentioned above you will find seals on offer everywhere, including here in Hong Kong. Stanely Market is a pretty popular place to have them made, and you can usually find at least one stall at the various street markets. You could also try On Toi Lane in Shueng Wan, this is not frequented by tourists nearly as much and may be cheaper, this is also yards from the wonderful West Villa restaurant for dim sum. (West Villa Restaurant, 16-20 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan, Tel: 2543-3990).

I have not priced them in a while, but Iwould be very surprised if you would pay more than US$10-15 for one, including a nice little silk box case, and a small pot of red ink paste. The poster above paid 50 yuan/RNB which is like US$7.

A suggestion for a chop is rather than having them translate your name, which does not always work (although you would not know it, the combination of characters they pick to phonetically sound out your name might have quite an awkward or bad meaning; my name for example does not translate particularly well), is to pick a word like “strength” “peace” “happiness” “love” or some word that already has an established Chinese character(s). Happiness is a lovely looking character, so is double happiness. Or the name of your favourite flower (esp peony, lotus or chrysanthemum which are very auspicious flowers).

Found the pic of our chop stall at Mutianyu Great Wall; always lose some clarity when reformatting pics for web posting, but you can see the array of sizes and styles of chops, and the little tins of red paste and some of the display boxes.
http://tinyurl.com/3vcyus

Happy travels!

Hi Cicerone,

The order of my trip is as I wrote: Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xian, Chengdu, Yangshuo, Hong Kong. Thanks for addresses and pricing information. Very reasonable and would be great for gifts. I should think of shopping ideas for Christmas.

I actually don’t want my name in chinese characters but these other possibilities: The meaning of my name: "Advisor"; or “traveler” or "Writing with light." Traveling and photography are my two passions.

FurryTiles, thanks for the link!

Monica ((F))

Cicerone - what a great idea! It works for a close friend, for my grandchildren (what I wish for them)or for couples as a joint gift. Perfect! Thanks!

I'm leaving for my trip a week today Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo, Yangtze cruise then a week in Shanghai, where I'll do my shopping. I'm bouncing off the walls!

In Shanghai, go to the Yuyuan Bazaar, dozens of seal carving stalls, they offer books with hundreds of western names translated into pleasant-meaning chinese characters, and they do western names too. You can have cheapo ones carved on little plastic blocks for $1, or pay a nice sum for expensive stones with animals or flowers carved on top.

Instead of waiting for the carving, go have a steaming basket of the famous xiaolongbao!

Monica- You will find a ton of places which make chops ncluding the Guilin Airport. Our flight to Shenzhen was slightly delayed and we had time to browse. There was a chop cart with a sign which said a chop could be made in minutes.

"Instead of waiting for the carving, go have a steaming basket of the famous xiaolongbao!"

Sounds like a good plan!

Thanks Lyn for the info.

Monica ((F))

I had a friend that got one in Hong Kong, he wanted something with an approximation of his name. What he got was something that meant "committing a sex act with an animal!" Funny thing is he did not find out about this gaff until many months later - after using it many times in personal letters!

How many tourists do you think purchased a chop that did not say what they tourist really wanted and never found out?

Hal

Hal, that's too funny!!

Monica ((F))

The price of chops partly depends on the quality of the stone and the skill of the carver (as well as how much of a tourist trap you're at!). Most of them are carved in soapstone, a very soft stone and very cheap. If you want one in jade or harder stones it will be more expensive.

Also check out how nice the carving on the top of the stone is as well as samples of the carver's work. I have many chops and if you pay attention, you can really see the difference. The longer the carver has to spend on it, the better it's likely to be, so beware of the 5-minute specials!

I've paid from 25 RMB to 50 US dollars.

They're heavy, so I'd recommend buying them toward the end of the trip after you've window shopped along the way.

K.

Thanks Kadzu that's really good advise.
Is there much difference between the ones carved in Chengdu, Guilin, Yangshou or Chongqing?
I always like to bring something special home as gifts & they sound perfect.
Annie

Not sure what my chop is made of, but I bought one while in Shanghai. I stayed to watch the man carve out my name and the meaning of my name. It took him about 25 minutes to do and I'm very happy with it. I paid 100RMB, which came in a large box and large container of red ink. I picked one of the larger chops.

Monica ((F))