Huaya

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Huaya
Toyotomi Hideyoshi Kaou.svg
Kaō of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Chinese name
Chinese花押
Japanese name
Kanji花押
Kanaかおう
Korean name
Hangul화압
Hanja花押

A huaya ("Flower Print"; Chinese: 花押; pinyin: Huā Yā; Korean: 화압, romanized: Hwaap; Japanese: 花押, romanized: Kaō) is a stylized signature or mark used in East Asian cultures in place of a true signature. Originating from China, the huaya was historically used by prominent figures such as government officials, artists, and craftsmen. In modern times, they are still occasionally used by important people. Most huaya are constructed from parts of Chinese characters and resemble them to a certain degree, depending on the calligraphy style.

History

China

The oldest surviving record of huaya is in the Book of Northern Qi, the official history of the Northern Qi dynasty (550–577 AD).[1] Huaya reached its peak popularity during the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127).[2] After that, its popularity began to decline.

Japan

Huaya first spread to Japan during the Heian period (794-1185), where it is called kaō.[3] Though their use became far less widespread after the Edo period, they continue to be used even by some contemporary politicians and other famous people.[4] The reading and identification of individual kaō often requires specialist knowledge; whole books devoted to the topic have been published.[5]

See also

  • Tughra, stylised Arabic signatures used by Ottoman sultans
  • Khelrtva, stylised Georgian calligraphic signatures
  • Signature

References

  1. ^ 李百药 (November 2020), 北齐书 [Book of Northern Qi] (in Chinese), 中国社会科学出版社, ISBN 978-7-5203-7496-5
  2. ^ "日本的"花押"到底是什么?" (in Chinese). June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  3. ^ 望月 鶴川 [Kakusen Mochizuki] (June 2005), 花押のせかい [The World of Kaō], 朝陽会 [Chōyōkai], ISBN 978-4-903059-03-7
  4. ^ 佐藤 進一 [Satō Shin'ichi] (September 2000), 花押を読む [Reading Kaō], 平凡社 [Heibonsha], ISBN 978-4-582-76367-6
  5. ^ 上島 有 [Tamotsu Kamishima] (December 2004), 中世花押の謎を解く―足利将軍家とその花押 [Cracking the Riddle of Kaō from the Middle Ages: The Ashikaga Shogunate and their Kaō], 山川出版社 [Yamakawa Shuppansha], ISBN 978-4-634-52330-2, JPNO 20717189
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