[leahjhburton]

I've been trying for some time to find a resource that could help me translate some stamps that I bought at an estate sale many years back. I'm not even certain if they are Chinese or Japanese, though the family who had them regularly travelled to Japan.

Here are a few links to pics of the stamps:

If anyone could help me out or point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a111/blampe/3.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a111/blampe/1.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a111/blampe/2.jpg



Thank for reading.

[jeargefef]

They look Chinese to my untrained eye. The problem with translating these is that they're written in a form designed for printing which I'm unused to (and of course they're back to front)! However:

This one is 麻, 'hemp.'

This one is 佛, 'buddha'

This one is far more complex. I think it might be a Chinese name. One of the characters is 籣, 'bow case.' It's not used at all in modern Japanese. I'm stuck as far as the others go. Hopefully someone else can help you out with this one

[CicyHannyCeli]

They could be Japanese-made.... do you know what they used these for?

[gypearteday]

Unfortunately I don't know. I believe they were purchased in Japan from a family. It's been driving me nuts though.

[jamisi]

They are chop blocks and are used to sign documents and letters (stamping a paper with a chop block is like giving your signature/authorization), although I don't know if they still do this is Japan. (I'm speaking from a Chinese perspective.)

The name of the person is usually written in an old style of calligraphy, which is why it's hard to read.

[Madjostok]

They still do it in Japan which in certain circumstances looks cool (for example a menjo) but in other situations is completely ridiculous (for example using with your bank account). If you get one made and wish to use if for legal documentation it has to be registered.... big pain in the ass for something that can easily be stolen and used by anyone.

These looks kind of odd because they dont look like names per se... but the usage could really be, well, anything.

They could be collecters items.... but they looked used.

In other words: dunno.

Here is the 1st webpage that popped up in google when I searched: http://www.e-8583.com/ ... I really like the way the links on this page are done in this style!!! Check out the Q&A one!

[GinaGomesz]

...Is there a family name "Plant" by any chance? The one with 3 characters sounds like a translation of that.

[polleroy]

One of the characters is 籣, 'bow case.' It's not used at all in modern Japanese.

I read 蘭 as in orchid.

[saumemeva]

Could they be used as stamps for calligraphic works? Pen-names (including single characters) would not be uncommon in this case.

[evalayCap]

I read 蘭 as in orchid.

I trust your judgement over mine、certainly. Looking again I agree with you. I'm not used to the style these characters are written in and I didn't know whether “山山” should be read as the grass radical or the bamboo radical. Looking at the page George posted, it seems the bamboo radical is written more like “巾巾” in this style.

[XangadsX]

Out of interest, what do you guys in Japan have on your hanko? Your name in katakana, an abbreviation or kanji? I had kanji recommended to me (as it was much cheaper and supposedly "wouldn't make a difference") but it gave me some difficulty when opening bank accounts etc. Never again!

[AlexanderDrew]

I have my surname in katakana on my inkan. Kanji always seems a bit stupid to me for foreign people.

I always call these kind of stamps hanko rather than inkan for some reason.

My calligraphy teacher specialises in tensho, so perhaps I can ask him on Monday.

[imporrilk]

I was GIVEN one when I arrived in Japan. It said ジョージ.. the source of a lot of embarrassment until I lost it!!! I dont NEED one as bank accounts can be operated without one, so I never bothered to get a new one. I always advise my pals that come to Japan not to get one.

[hjyAMqqT]

Interesting - "Plant" was the last name of the family I got the stamps from.
Which pic did you say was Plant?

...Is there a family name "Plant" by any chance? The one with 3 characters sounds like a translation of that.

[Zfdeisde]

That would be this one.

(After Mingshi's correction, I now think I　see 普 (pŭ) 蘭 (lán) and then something else I can't read )

[Qnpqbpac]

[Out of edit time, sorry]

And the something else is 特 (té). That was easier than when I tried doing it last night! If it is a translation of 'Plant,' that means it is definitely Chinese.

[Carfanate]

I was GIVEN one when I arrived in Japan. It said ジョージ.. the source of a lot of embarrassment until I lost it!!! I dont NEED one as bank accounts can be operated without one, so I never bothered to get a new one. I always advise my pals that come to Japan not to get one.

You don't have an inkan!?!

I went over to the kei jidosha kyokai to register a car the other day with a friend who didn't have an inkan and it was a f**king nightmare.

Everyone I speak to thinks katakana inkan are cool. Foreign people with hard to read phonetic kanji on their inkan generally look a bit twattish IMHO.

I'm foreign and proud to be so.

カタカナ　ミー　アップ　ビアッチュ！！！

[Sthjrderfida]

Foreign people with hard to read phonetic kanji on their inkan generally look a bit twattish IMHO.

Cheers

Like I said, it was a nightmare with my old inkan. Katakana all the way next time.

[himecthekWiff]

Out of interest, what do you guys in Japan have on your hanko? Your name in katakana, an abbreviation or kanji?

My council office advised me to have mine EXATCTLY as shown in my passport (i.e. Roman letters) as, according to them, some districts and institutions frown upon a jitsu-in that can't be matched to a name on a legal document. Costs a fair bit to make - 11 letters, and you can't get one at the 100 yen shop!! My daughter's is in katakana - again, not cheap at 7 symbols -, as that's how her name appears on all the Japanese legal documentation (except her passport, and that required a special application so that our surnames would be identical)

Mingshi, do you think you could give us the characters in modern script? Just curious as to what the first and last ones are.

[Peterli]

You don't have an inkan!?!

Nope, lost mine in a drunken episode in Kyoto. Lost my digi camera and my elec-dictionary which was far far more heart-rending.

Im pretty positive that a signature can be used in place of a stamp IN ANY circumstance in Japan..... but im not sure that the public are generally aware of it... especially not in the hinterlands (cough).

I'm foreign and proud to be so.

Thats why a signature gives you even more power than a katakana inkan!