Bronze Seal of Ye Chieftain

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.560

Category

Craft

Era

중국 한대

Designated year

1971

Location

용산구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 용산구 서빙고로 137 (용산동6가, 국립중앙박물관)

Coordinates

37.538427, 126.965444

This seal made during the Chinese Dynasty of Jin is of the kind that used to be given by the Chinese emperor to the rulers of neighboring countries following a custom that began in the Han Dynasty. This item is 2.5cm tall with one side meaning 2.3㎝. The seal is said to have been discovered in Yeongil-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, along with ten glass beads. The seal is thickly covered with green rust, across the entire surface. The face, slightly worn and damaged, suggests that the seal was not an ornamental object, and that it had been actually used. The state of preservation is decent overall. The figure of a monkey is mounted on top of the square seal, serving as the handle. The head is held upright, and the face shows two deep-set eyes and a protruding mouth. Of the four paws resting on the seal, the two front ones appear slightly curled. There is an open space below the abdomen, between the front and hind paws. Several horizontal incised lines are visible in the area from the abdomen to the thighs. The seal face is carved with six characters in intaglio that read “Jinsolseon yebaekjang.”

Location