The seal of the Japanese National Honor Society was carved by Mr. Akio Fujita. He lives in Hachioji, Japan. The National Council of Japanese Language Teachers expresses our special appreciation for his contribution.
About Tenkoku
(seal carving). Carving of a name or sobriquet in a durable material, such as stone or wood, to fashion a seal. Tenkoku (Ch: zhuanke or chuan-k'o) refers to the carving of seals used in an unofficial capacity to imprint works of graphic art, and in particular to seals carved for their own use by bunjin (Ch: wenren or wen-jen; literati artists; see BUNJINGA). The term derives from tensho (Ch: zhuanshu or chuan-shu; archaic script), the calligraphic style in which seals are usually carved. Seal carving came to Japan from China in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) but did not flourish until the Edo period (1660-1868), when the practice spread among bunjin. Craving of seals and the study of old imprints continues today, and exhibitions are well attended by aficionados. See also RAKKAN.
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