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Jade
Jade can be found in mountains and riverbeds. When polished and carved, jade is attributed with certain cultural characteristics. Jade comes in a variety of colors: white, green, red, yellow, and lavender. Among all the colors, the clear emerald green stone has the highest value. This stone can be made into jewelry, used as sacrificial and auspicious articles, pieces for display, brush holders, armrests, hairpins, walking sticks, and many more. Jade ornaments still maintain its popularity up to this day. The Chinese believe that wearing jade will bring a person luck. Thus, an ideal present among the Chinese is jade items. Although jade used to be a royal gem exclusive for the upper class, it is now worn or owned by everyone. In Taiwan, the art of jade carving has reached yet another summit in its development. Chop Engraving
Chinese name chops are carved by hand and are made with pyrophylite, a soft mineral. When carved, the beauty of the calligraphy becomes visible, and the special effect is achieved by knife carving as opposed to grinding. A ready engraved chop must be pressed into red ink paste, then stamped onto paper before it becomes an object of use. Red ink paste is made from cinnabar, a mercuric compound and is an essential tool in chop art. Chop engraving is eminently an antique in Taiwan. There have been copious exhibitions and classes in chop art held at colleges and museums around the island. Chop art is not just an art form, but its uses are being manipulated daily by the Chinese. There are shops that also provide services to tourist who would like to have a personalized chop done as a souvenir to keep.
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Jade
is China's most precious gem. In Chinese, 'jade' refers to a fine, beautiful
stone with warm color and rich luster that is skillfully and delicately
carved. Jade has many symbolic meanings to it, such as nobility, perfection,
constancy, and immortality.
Name
chops are common everywhere in the world. However, not all chops look
alike with the bulb-like holder and the rubber stamp glued to a small
plastic piece. Chops play an important role in the Chinese society. Name
chops are used when withdrawing money from banks, picking up registered
letters from the post office, legalizing contracts, and to acknowledge
receipt of official documents.