Chinese Monastery Stamp Depicting Yin Yang, Based

Swirling black-and-white disc sits ringed by eight sets of carved bars.

This monastery stamp depicting a yin yang is from China, and dates to the early 20th century. It is soapstone. Soapstone is soft and fine grained, so carvers can cut crisp lines in it, and it has long been used for seals and small desk objects. Square stone block carved with a central circle divided by a curved line into two halves, each with a small round dot. Eight groups of short lines surround it. Red staining fills the cuts of the creamy surface. It stands on a black mount. It is 3.25 inches wide, 1.5 deep and 5.5 high.

Balance, in a square block with strong opinions.