A kaō is a stylized signature or a mark used in east Asia in place of a true signature.
[edit] History
Kaō first appeared in China during the Tang Dynasty, and began to be used in Japan during the Heian period.[1] 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.[2] The reading and identification of individual kaō often requires specialist knowledge; whole books devoted to the topic have been published.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ 望月 鶴川 [Kakusen Mochizuki] (June 2005), 『花押のせかい』 [The World of Kaō], 朝陽会 [Chōyōkai], ISBN 9784903059037
- ^ 佐藤 進一 [Satō Shin'ichi] (September 2000), 『花押を読む』 [Reading Kaō], 平凡社 [Heibonsha], ISBN 9784582763676
- ^ 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 9784634523302, NDL 20717189
