Originating from China, the huaya was historically used by prominent figures such as government officials, monks, artists, and craftsmen.

The use of stamp seals gradually replaced the huaya, though they are still used occasionally in modern times by important people.

A small number of early marks, mostly used by Buddhist monks, are simply abstract pictures related to the person's identity.

During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), marks with a design between two horizontal lines became popular in China, and was adopted later by the Tokugawa clan in Japan.

[4] The reading and identification of individual kaō often requires specialist knowledge; whole books devoted to the topic have been published.