Our Heart of Compassion ‘Chop’ is Jizo Red

A Chinese chop is a special stamp used instead of a signature in China. It's a key tool for doing business and handling official matters there.

Chinese chops come in different shapes and sizes. Most are small, round or square blocks made of stone, wood, or plastic. They have Chinese characters carved on the bottom. When pressed onto red ink and stamped on paper, they leave a clear mark.

Some chops are very simple, while others have fancy designs. The size can range from tiny personal seals to large company stamps. You might see dragons, flowers, or other decorations around the edges.

The main part is always the Chinese characters, which spell out a name or title. Ours spells out Heart of Compassion Zen.

Jizo Bodhisattva wears red because red is the colour for expelling demons and illness. Jizo's roles are to save us from the torments of hell, bring fertility, protect children and grant longevity. Jizō embodies peaceful qualities such as benevolence and generosity, and as such it is considered the protector of pregnant women, children, firemen, and travelers.

Jizō acts by relieving their suffering, sharing their pain; it also came to be considered a guide for the wandering souls stuck between the realm of the living and the afterlife.