Where Chinese literary artists add poems to their paintings as many as eight seals may be observed thereon. In Japanese paintings never more than two seals are used and these follow and authenticate the signature.
The correct distance at which a _kakemono_ is to be viewed is the width of a mat _(tatami)_ from the alcove where the picture is hung. It is bad form to look at it standing. Before critically examining the work a Japanese will scrutinize the artist’s signature and seal. It is a cardinal rule in Japan that the signature be affixed so as not to interfere with the scheme of the picture or attract the eye. If the picture looks to the right the signature and seal should be placed on the left, and _vice versa;_ if the principal interest is in the upper part of a picture these should be placed lower down, and _vice versa._ As every painting has its division into IN and YO the RAKKWAN is placed in IN. Some artists partially cover their signatures with their seal impression. Lady artists add to their signatures the character JO, meaning woman. Veteran painters will sometimes write before their signatures the character for old man _(okina)._
The artist’s seal is often a work of art and his family name (MYOJI) or his artist name (GO) is usually engraved thereon with the Chinese seal characters called TEN SHO. Where two seals are affixed below the signature one may contain a classic aphorism, like TAI BI FU GEN (the truly beautiful is indescribable) or CHU YO (keep the middle path). Before seals were used writings were authenticated by scrolls called _kaki_ HAN. Even now such scrolls are used. The principles on which they are shaped are derived from astrological lore (EKI). Seal engravers deservedly enjoy renown for learning and skill. To carve a seal is the recognized accomplishment of a gentleman, and the most famous living seal engraver in Japan is an amateur. Seals are of jade, rock crystal, precious woods, Formosa bamboo root, gold, silver or ivory. The best hard stone for seals comes from China and is known as the cock’s comb (KEI KETSU SEKI).
An artist during his career will collect numbers of valuable seals for his own use. These at his death may be given to favorite pupils or kept as house treasures. Bairei left instructions to have many of his seals destroyed.