Seal of the Emperor传国玉玺

The Imperial Seal of China, passed from dynasty to dynasty. Sun Jian found it in a well in Luoyang, sparking conflict over its possession and the legitimacy it conferred.

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The Seal of the Emperor (传国玉玺 chuán guó yù xǐ), also known as the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, was China’s most important symbol of legitimate rule. Carved from the famous He Shi Bi jade, it bore the inscription ‘Having received the Mandate of Heaven, may the Emperor lead a long and prosperous life.’ Sun Jian reportedly found it in a well in Luoyang after Dong Zhuo burned the city. Its possession became a source of conflict, as each faction sought the legitimacy it conferred.

References

  • Chen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志)
  • Luo Guanzhong, Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三国演义)
  • Sima Guang, Zizhi Tongjian (资治通鉴)
  • de Crespigny, Rafe. A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms