Bank of China (中国银行), founded in 1912, is the only bank in China to have operated continuously for more than a century. Its visual identity consists of two distinct components: the emblem, designed by Hong Kong designer Kan Tai-keung, and the four Chinese characters “中国银行” calligraphed by Guo Moruo in the 1950s. The bank launched its corporate logo globally in 1986, becoming the first bank on the Chinese mainland to introduce a brand identity. [1]
Design and History
In 1980, Kan Tai-keung’s design firm Kan & Lau Design Consultants was commissioned to design the bank’s emblem. The design combines the shape of an ancient Chinese coin with the character “中” (Zhong, meaning China). The circular form of the coin serves as the basic shape, with a square hole in the middle and vertical lines added above and below, forming the character “中” while also echoing the traditional Chinese concept of a round heaven and square earth. In 1986, the Bank of China head office selected this design as its official emblem. [2] [3]
The emblem was first used in Hong Kong in the 1980s and was applied to branches in mainland China around 1984 to 1985, before being formally adopted as the bank-wide emblem in 1986. It is recognized as the first bank logo in the history of China’s banking industry. [3]
The four Chinese characters “中国银行” were calligraphed by Guo Moruo, the renowned Chinese writer, historian and calligrapher, in the 1950s. According to an account published in China Philatelic News, in 1955 the Bank of China’s London branch requested a new signboard, and Guo Moruo was asked to write the bank’s name. He delivered two versions of the calligraphy, and the bank has used his handwriting ever since. [4] Kan & Lau later made slight modifications to Guo’s calligraphy for use in the bank’s signage system. [3]
In 2011, the Bank of China logo received the “Classic Design Award” at the Beijing International Design Week, an honor shared with other landmark Chinese designs including the Tiananmen viewing stands and the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest). [5]
Meaning and Symbolism
The emblem’s ancient coin shape symbolizes the bank’s banking nature. The Chinese character “中” at the center represents China, and the circular outer design signifies the bank’s status as a global enterprise with an international vision. [1] The emblem is rendered in red on a white background. [5]
The design firm Kan & Lau also developed a comprehensive corporate identity system for the bank, notably proposing white as the background color for signage. At the time, no bank in China used white signage, but the firm argued that maintaining a bank’s sign in pristine condition was a standard expected of an international bank. This approach was later widely imitated by other financial institutions. [3]
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