A Jade Seal with Zhuanshu Inscription in Xiaomeiling Nephrite: Attribution to the Late Eastern Zhou – Early Han Transitional Period

Abstract This article examines a rare jade seal with a four-character inscription in zhuanshu (篆书, seal script), carved from white-yellow nephrite originating from the Xiaomeiling (小梅岭, Jiangsu–Anhui) deposit. The finial is shaped as a seated dragon. The object demonstrates a combination of stylistic and epigraphic features characteristic of the Late Eastern Zhou (Warring States, 4th–3rd centuries BCE) and the Early Han period (3rd–2nd centuries BCE). The seal thus represents a transitional stage in the development of the Chinese imperial bureaucratic system. Mineralization and patina indicate genuine archaeological burial. Keywords: nephrite, Xiaomeiling, jade seal, zhuanshu, Warring States, Early Han, attribution, Chu state. Introduction Jade seals occupy a special place in Chinese culture as symbols of power and instruments of sacred and administrative authority. The earliest jade seals are attested in the Eastern Zhou period, where they functioned as aristocratic name-marks. During the Warring States period (5th–3rd centuries BCE), inscriptions became more elaborate, and seals began to serve as formal insignia of political authority. From the Han dynasty onward, seals were standardized as official state and imperial documents of power, bearing formulas such as “之印”, “之璽”, and “之寶”. The present object (cat. no. HAN-TANG-SEAL-13) is a unique example illustrating the transition from late Zhou aristocratic jade seals to the Han imperial system. Material and Methods The object is a monumental jade seal made of white-yellow nephrite with ochre veining. Methods of study: Visual and microscopic examination of surface (patina, traces of tools). Macro-photographic documentation of cracks and mineralization. Epigraphic analysis of the inscription in zhuanshu. Comparison with museum analogues (Metropolitan Museum, British Museum, Shanghai Museum, Cleveland Museum of Art). Geological attribution of the material based on known jade sources of the Zhou–Han period. Description of the Seal Form: cubic seal surmounted by a dragon-shaped finial. Material: fine-grained nephrite (tremolite-actinolite), white-yellow with ochre veining. Finial: a seated dragon with flattened muzzle, compact body, and zoomorphic claws. Inscription: four-character composition in intaglio (yin ke 陰刻, “white script”), in zhuanshu. Preliminary reading: 「奉命之寶」 (“Seal granted by command”). Condition: a through-going crack filled with calcite mineralization; deep patina within grooves; no evidence of modern mechanical cutting. Analysis and Interpretation Script style: corresponds to small seal script (xiao zhuan 小篆), codified during the late Warring States and standardized under Qin. Four-character formula: aligns with early Han bureaucratic seals, while the jade material and animal-shaped finial continue Eastern Zhou traditions. Material: the nephrite originates from Xiaomeiling (小梅岭, Jiangsu–Anhui), widely used in Chu-state workshops. Mineralization: calcite and iron-oxide deposits within the crack confirm long-term burial and archaeological authenticity. Attribution Date: Late Eastern Zhou – Early Han transitional period (4th–3rd to 3rd–2nd centuries BCE). Cultural sphere: Chu state, regional workshops. Material: nephrite from the Xiaomeiling deposit (小梅岭, Jiangsu–Anhui). Function: official or aristocratic seal of ceremonial-administrative function. Conclusion Seal HAN-TANG-SEAL-13 is an exceptional artifact of transitional Chinese history. It: Combines the archaic zoomorphic finial of the Zhou tradition with the formulaic four-character inscription of the Han system. Is carved from Xiaomeiling nephrite, characteristic of Chu workshops. Displays clear signs of ancient burial (mineralization, patina, manual tool traces). This object represents a critical testimony to the genesis of Chinese seal culture and the consolidation of political authority at the Zhou–Han threshold. References Rawson, J. Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing. London: British Museum Press, 1995. So, A. Chinese Jades from the C. T. Loo Collection. Hong Kong: University Museum, 2000. Li, Ling 李零. Zhongguo gudai xiyin yanjiu 中国古代玺印研究. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 2004. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Seal with Crouching Dragon. Online Collection. Shanghai Museum. Chun An Jun jade seal. Gallery of Ancient Seals.