A batch of gold and silverware of the Tuoba Xianbei ethnic group was unearthed in 1956 in Ulangab City, Inner Mongolia. Among them was the silver seal from the Western Jin Dynasty (265~316) period.1
Silver Seal of the Xianbei Commandant of Shuai Shan of the Jin Dynasty 晋鲜卑率善中郎将银印
Silver | Western Jin (265-316) | Dimensions – H: 2.6 cm, L (side): 2.2 cm; wt: 41.2 g | Collection of the Inner Mongolia Museum, Excavated from the Xiaobazitan in Liangeheng County, Ulangab City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. 银｜西晋（公元265年-316年）｜高2.6厘米，边长2.2厘米；重41.2克｜内蒙古博物院藏，内蒙古乌兰察布市凉城县小坝子滩出土
The seal is cast in silver with a camel-shaped knob. It is flat and square, with the eight characters meaning “Xianbei Commandant of Shuai Shan of the Jin Dynasty” 「晋鲜卑率善中郎将」 engraved in seal script on its surface. 2
The term Shuai Shan 率善, meaning “leading in goodness”, appeared in the mid-Eastern Han period and was a title conferred by the Central Plains dynasties to the leaders of ethnic tribes such as the Di 氐 and Qiang 羌, who settled in the inner and border regions. The title implied adherence to good conduct and law, and the pacification of the people.
This system continued during the Wei and Jin periods (220-420), with Shuai Shan becoming an honorary title for mid- to lower-level officials among ethnic leaders. This seal reflects the deep exchange and integration among various ethnic groups during this period.
Many hundreds of seals, made of various substances (gold, silver, copper, jade, even wood and stone) with variously shaped handles and inscribed in a variety of ways, have been unearthed at numerous sites in and around China. Here are some other examples.
Gold Seal of Marquis of Cong Ba Submitting to Han “汉归义賨邑侯”金印
Gold | Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) | National Museum of China Collection. 金｜汉（公元前202年-公元220年）｜国家博物馆藏
The Eastern Han government conferred this official seal on the leader of the Cong 賨 (Ba 巴, minority in modern day Sichuan) people.
Seal of the King of the Di Clan Submitting to Jin 晋归义氐王
Gold | Western Jin (265 – 316) | Shanghai Museum Collection. 金｜西晋（公元265年-316年）｜上海博物馆藏
About Chinese National Treasure Series
中華國寶系列 Chinese National Treasure series feature specific artefacts and relics from museums all around the world that are historically significant to be considered a National Treasure. The series covers the 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation from Neolithic periods before the Xia dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BC) to modern day.
Footnotes :
- 西晋时 (265～316) 拓跋鲜卑族金银器，最重要的是1956年在内蒙古凉城县小坝子滩沙虎子沟出土的一批。其中“晋鲜卑归义侯”金印，长2.25厘米，宽2.25厘米；“晋乌丸归义侯”金印,长2.25厘米,宽 2.3厘米；“晋鲜卑率善中郎将”银印，长2.15厘米,宽2.15厘米。3印均为驼钮。 https://baike.baidu.com/item/鲜卑金银器/4845625 ↩︎
- 银铸，驼钮。印呈扁方形，印面阴刻“晋鲜卑率善中郎将”八字，印文为篆体。“率善”出现于东汉中期，是中原王朝授予周边氐、羌等入居内郡、边郡的民族部落首领的封号，其内容为循善守法、安民。魏晋时期仍沿袭此制，“率善”成为中原王朝针对民族首领中下级职官的封号，此印体现出这一时期各民族之间深入的交流融合。 From Museum Display Tag ↩︎
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