Mysteries of the Chinese Treasure Seal

Author: Du Kuisheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: The term "bao xi" refers to the imperial seal or yu xi, which is the great seal of the emperor, akin to the national seal of a country today. The personal seal of the emperor, however, is similar to the private seal of a national leader today. For example, "Qianlong Zhi Bao" is the private seal or personal seal of the Qianlong Emperor, belonging to an individual name seal, not an "official seal." "Bao xi" refers to a set of seals established by a dynasty according to its system, with a set of seals carved based on this system, which is used by whichever emperor rules, passed down from ancestors, and often made of fine jade, hence also called the "National Jade Seal." The three essential elements of a seal are: a (a handle that can be held by hand), a (a loop through which a string can be tied for wearing), and reversed text or images (which can be stamped). These elements have evolved and progressed over time and through successive dynasties.