One of the most mysterious and important national treasures in Chinese history, the Jade Seal is a special seal for the emperor carved from Heshi Bi (or Lantian jade) after Qin Shi Huang unified the Six Kingdoms, with the eight characters "Appointed by Heaven, Both Life and Yongchang" (or "Both Life and Kang"). Regarded as a symbol of imperial orthodoxy and the destiny of heaven, it has been passed down in Chinese history for more than 2,000 years, experiencing dozens of dynasties and countless wars and changing hands. However, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, this legendary jade seal disappeared and its whereabouts are still unknown. So, how did the Jade Seal of the Kingdom disappear? Where did it go? This is a puzzle that has puzzled countless people. To solve this puzzle, we must look back at the past and present lives of the Jade Seal.
Qin Shi Huang cast the jade seal of the country
In the twenty-sixth year of Qin Shi Huang (221 BC), after Qin Shi Huang destroyed the last vassal state, the State of Qi, he completed the unification of various regions of China. He abolished the system of separate fiefdoms, changed his name to "emperor", established a centralized system, and carried out a series of reforms and constructions. In order to consolidate his authority and status, he ordered Li Si to carve out a seal of his own - the Jade Seal of the Kingdom. It is said that this seal was made with Heshi Bi (or Lantian jade, a specialty of the Qin State), which Zhao Gao swindled from the Crown Prince Dan of the State of Zhao. This seal weighs about three pounds and two taels (about 1.6 kilograms), is about 9 centimeters long on each side of the square, and is engraved with eight insect and bird seal characters (or "Ordered by Heaven and Life and Kang") on the front, and a dragon pattern engraved on the back. These characters and patterns all express the meaning of Qin Shi Huang as the Son of Heaven, the Emperor of All Worlds, the Father of All Peoples, the Lord of All Things, the Sacred and Inviolable, and enjoys unlimited life and well-being.
After the death of Qin Shi Huang, the jade seal of the state, which was "appointed to Tianji Shou Yongchang", was inherited by the successor Hu Hai, and remained in use until the end of the second emperor Hu Hai's period. In 207 BC, Xiang Yu, the overlord of Western Chu who had achieved a dominant position in the Chu-Han War, attacked Guanzhong and set fire to the Qin palace in Xianyang, which was few remnants but still relatively intact, and had a large number of precious cultural relics and works of art and other wealth and resources. He divided three Qin generals in Guanzhong into three Qin generals, Zhang Wei as the King of Yong, Sima Xin as the King of Sai, and Dong Yi as the King of Zhai, collectively known as the "Three Qins". He also made Liu Bang the King of Han, ruling the areas around Hanzhong, Ba, and Shu, and establishing the capital Nanzheng. Xiang Yu proclaimed himself the overlord of Western Chu, and the territory of the state of Chu included Liang Chu Jiu County (present-day eastern China and most of Jiangnan), and the capital Pengcheng (Xuzhou, Jiangsu). He also divided the eighteen princes.
Liu Bang was not satisfied with the small state of Hanzhong and was determined to seize the land in Guanzhong . He secretly crossed Chen Cang3, attacked the Three Qins, and sent Han Xin and other generals to pacify other areas. When Xiang Yu heard the news, he led his army back to Shiguanzhong and fought with Liu Bang for more than four years. After many fierce battles and negotiations, the two sides clashed in Xingyang, Chenggao, Pengcheng and other places. During this period, both Liu Bang and Xiang Yu were betrayed or rebelled against by some princes.23
Finally, in the Battle of Yaxia in 202 BC, Liu Bang led a 100,000-strong Han army to besiege Xiang Yu's 280,000 Chu army. After months of siege and breakout, the Chu army suffered heavy casualties and demoralized. Seeing that the general trend was over, Xiang Yu did not want to be captured or surrendered, so he killed himself by the Wujiang River. The Chu-Han Dispute ended with the victory of the Han army, Liu Bang unified China, and established the Western Han Dynasty, after Liu Bang obtained the jade seal of the kingdom, he regarded it as a national treasure of the Han Dynasty. At the end of the Western Han Dynasty, when Wang Mang usurped the throne, he forcibly seized the jade seal of the kingdom from Empress Dowager Xiaoyuan of Han, and added the eight characters "New Received Han Chuan National Seal" to it. Later, he was overthrown by the Green Forest Army and returned the Jade Seal to Liu Xiu.
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, when Dong Zhuo burned the city of Luoyang, the jade seal of the kingdom was lost. It was later found in the ruins by Sun Jian and brought back to Jiangdong. After his death, Yuan Shu bought the Jade Seal of the Kingdom from Sun Ce for five hundred gold, and proclaimed himself the Tianzi of the Zhong clan. After his death, Xuzhou Mu Taoqian received the jade seal of the kingdom and presented it to Cao Cao. After Cao Cao obtained the jade seal of the kingdom, he engraved the six characters "Wei received the seal of the Han dynasty" on it, and used it as a symbol of the Wei dynasty. When Sima Yan usurped Wei Jianjin, he also inherited this treasure seal. During the Five Hu Chaohua period, when Emperor Hui of Jin was captured by Former Zhao, he gave it to Liu Cong.
After Liu Cong obtained the jade seal of the kingdom, he engraved the four characters "Mandate of Heaven Shi Clan" on it and used it as the authority of Former Zhao. After his death, Former Zhao was divided in civil unrest. When the last emperor, Liu Yao, surrendered to Shi Le, he gave it to him.
After Shi Le obtained the jade seal of the kingdom, he added the four characters "Mandate of Heaven Yongchang" to it and used it as a symbol of Later Zhao. After his death, his son Shi Hu inherited it. However, shortly after his death, Former Yan and Eastern Jin jointly attacked Later Zhao and each received a treasure seal.
One of the pieces was taken by Murong Zhuo from Shi Min and bears the inscription "Emperor Shouchang by Mandate of Heaven" on it; The other piece was stolen by Jiang Gan from Shi Min and had the words "Emperor Shoukang of the Mandate of Heaven" on it. Both pieces claim to be genuine jade seals made by Qin Shi Huang and made of Heshi Bi.
A piece of the jade seal obtained by the Eastern Jin Dynasty was stolen by Jiang Gan from Shi Min, and has the inscription "Emperor Shoukang of the Mandate of Heaven" on it. This jade seal was passed down until the fall of the Chen Dynasty of the Southern Dynasty and was included in the palace by the Sui Emperor. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, when Emperor Jiao of Sui and Empress Xiao fled to the Turks, they took them away. After Emperor Taizong of Tang Li Shimin sent Li Jing to defeat the Turks, Xiao surrendered and gave the jade seal to Li Shimin. A piece of the jade seal obtained by Former Yan was taken by Murong Zhu from Shi Min, and it bears the inscription "Emperor Shouchang by Mandate of Heaven" on it. This jade seal disappeared after the fall of Former Yan until the reign of Emperor Zhezong of the Northern Song Dynasty, when someone sacrificed it to the Song court in Bianjing. The Song court identified it as a genuine jade seal made by Qin Shi Huang and made of Heshi Bi, and treasured it. During Jingkang's change, the jade seal was stolen by the Jin Ren and disappeared again.
Therefore, it can be seen that there have been three pieces of heirloom jade seals in history that claim to be made by Qin Shi Huang.
And now, the current situation of the jade seal of the kingdom is unknown. There are various theories and legends, but none of them have conclusive evidence. Some believe it has been destroyed or lost, some believe it is still hidden somewhere, and others claim to have or discovered it, but none of it has been verified or identified.
The Jade Seal is a mysterious and important cultural relic in Chinese history, it was once a symbol of the emperor's orthodox power, and it also caused many disputes and disputes. If you can find the real jade seal, it will be of great value for the study of Chinese history and culture.