Japan What is this symbol?

[History_Geek]

I know (pretty sure) this is a Korean Award Document for an Order of the Korean Taegeuk 5th Class. I can read most of the Japanese portion of the document. However, I do have a question. What is the symbol in the center of the document. Is this Korean? It is in the place where the Japanese Emperor would sign, so is this Emperor Sunjong signature? Should I post this question in the Korean forum? Thanks for any help.

[JapanX]

What is the symbol in the center of the document

State seal.

I think chinese charachers are used.

It is in the place where the Japanese Emperor would sign, so is this Emperor Sunjong signature?

Must be

Should I post this question in the Korean forum?

Naaa

We don`t have this one

Regards,

Nick

Edited July 21, 2014 by JapanX

[JapanX]

Ok.

Now something special.

60 years ago US serviceman stole all Korean state seals (not bad! )

Only recently they were found in San Diego

Here they are

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

More info here

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140315000083

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140315000083

[History_Geek]

Nick,

Thanks for the quick reply and great story about the seals. I love the history involved with this hobby!

[Hugh]

For those who may not know it, seals like these have been commonly used in China, Japan and Korea for years by governments, businesses and individuals much in the same way that Europeans use a signature. In many cases, you might find documents with no signatures, only seals (or chops) as they are frequently known. They are as binding (or more) than a signature.

[Rogi]

We do have a Korean section, although it is listed together in an Asia forum, Hard to find and I think this (Japan forum) is the best place for this post

[Jktu]

Тhis is "nine folds" style.

大韓國璽

[JapanX]

國璽 - BIG SEAL

大韓 - Korea

[History_Geek]

I have been looking around for Emperor Sunjong’s signature in Hangul on the web and in my library. This is as close as I got. It is from Wikipedia. They said Sunjong, the Emperor Yunghui, name in Hangul was 융희제. Given that Emperor in Korean is황제 (thanks google translate), then would make 융 Sunjong’s name. So, the last question is thus, does the signature on the document look like a stylized and signature form of 융.

I am not sure, the signature on the document seems to be missing the bottom circle. Any thoughts? If it is an authentic signature, I wonder how rare a document like this is?

[JapanX]

... does the signature on the document look like a stylized and signature form of 융.

Close enough to me

I wonder how rare a document like this is?

Compare to what?

Signed korean docs appear on the market from time to time, but of course these are much more rare than signed japanese docs

Edited July 23, 2014 by JapanX