East Asian Studies Center: Japanese Art Program

Purpose/ Rationale
Japanese use a seal stamp (Hanko) as well as writing a signature in order to verify important documents. On Hanko are inscribed personal names, which are written in Kanji, one type of the Japanese characters developed from Chinese characters. Through creating their own Hanko, students will become familiar with the use of Kanji, which indicates meanings and has usually two different readings.

Objectives
Students will:
1. know the use of a seal stamp in Japanese society.
2. become aware of the use of Kanji as one type of Japanese characters.
3. create a seal stamp with a sculpted handle that stands for the meaning of their Japanese names.

Time Allotment
1 class session

Materials
Air-dried clay (Model magic)
Japanese word processor, such as Japanese kit

Visuals
Signed and sealed documents that show the use of seal stamps
Pictures of several kinds of seals from different times
Hanko Vocabulary

Cultural: Kanji (Japanese Characters), Hanko (Seal),

Art: Modeling, SymbolProcedure

Preparation
A teacher will:
1. Find a Japanese name for each student by using a Japanese word processor or ask some Japanese to do so. (30 min. for 20 students)
*Notes: Find easiest Kanji for students’ names. The fewer strokes Kanji has, the easier the names are inscribed on Hanko.
2. make a card for each student, which indicates his or her Japanese name in Kanji and the meaning of the name. (See Appendix 1) (10 min. for 20 students)
2. make the base of Hanko and on the base inscribe the name with coils made out of clay in a different color. (10 min. for each Hanko)

Setup (5 min.)
A teacher will:
1. Prepare a slide projector and slides.
2. Place air-dried clay and the Japanese name cards on the table.

Look at and Talk about Art (10 min.)
Students will:
1. look at the documents that are signed and sealed and become aware of how a seal is used on the documents.
2. receive their Japanese name cards from a teacher and talk about the meanings of their names in Kanji.

Create (30 min.)
Students will:
1. make a group of 4 to 5 students in order to share air-dried clay.
2. model a handle that stands for the meaning of the Japanese name.

Assess and Close (10 min.)
Students will:
1. try out the seal stamp on a piece of paper.
2. talk about how effectively the modeled handle expresses the meaning of their names in Kanji. Extension and Enrichment

World History
Japanese imported Chinese culture into their culture and converted it for the further development. Japanese language that consists of three types of characters, Kanji, Katakana, Hiragana, shows this fact. Students will find other facts that show China’s influence on Japan in the old times and learn what both cultures share with each other.

Resources
Kadota, S. (1997). Hanko to Nihon-jin. Tokyo, Japan: Taikou-sya. (ISBN4-924899-22-4, IU Library: OJ CD 6243. M66 1997).

Appendix 1: An Example of the Japanese Name Card

Sculpture: Seal Stamps (Hanko)