Bronze Seal of Ye Chieftain

This bronze seal, inscribed 晋率善濊伯長 ("Jin Solseon Ye Baekjang", a title of a Ye chieftain granted allegiance to Jin), is a type of seal that, from the Han dynasty of China onward, was bestowed on the rulers of neighbouring states; it measures 2.5 cm in height, with each side of the base 2.3 cm long. It is said to have been made during China's Jin dynasty and to have been excavated in Yeongil-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, together with ten blue glass beads. The whole surface is thickly covered with a green patina, and there is some damage to the sealing face, suggesting that the seal was actually used; overall, it is in good condition. Above the square sealing face, an animal in the shape of a monkey serves as the handle. Its face is held upright, with two deeply hollowed eyes and a mouth that juts forward. Of the four legs planted on the seal base, the forelegs appear slightly drawn in, and an open space is left below the waist, between the fore- and hind legs. In particular, a number of short horizontal lines are incised running from the waist to the thighs. On the base of the sealing face, the characters 晋率善濊伯長 are incised in clerical script.

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Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물