Chop, Chop, Chop

In China it has always been important for royalty to have a chop. A chop is an instrument used to imprint a symbol using ink. It is made of marble and will usually have your name carved into it on one of the blunt ends. The size may vary, most are about one inch square on the end.

If you are an adoptive parent visiting the island you must have your chop done! You are no one there unless you have your chop done.

Here is Kelly's chop with her Chinese name under it.

Kelly had her chop, along with MaMa and DaDa's chop, done at Michael's. He does artistic boarder work around the edge of the chop.

Here is a side view of the chops.

There are many designs to choose from, too many to choose from. DaDa's on the left, has a Dragon on top. MaMa's on the right is like a little pagoda building.







This is what you get in your chop kit. A nice box covered in satin Chinese weave fabric, the inside is lined with velvet, your personalized marble chop, a ceramic dish with lid that houses the red ink pad.
This is Kelly's. It has a rooster on top. She was born the year of the rooster.





This is Michael, owner of Michael's Place, near the tennis courts. He runs this shop, and was the one who carved our chops.













This is Michael's wife. She runs another shop a block away.