玺 (xǐ) - Imperial seal — the seal or stamp used

玺Tone 3

xǐ ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

玺 · xǐ

Imperial seal — the seal or stamp used by Chinese emperors, symbolizing imperial authority and power.

Imperial seal — the seal or stamp used

Usage highlights

Imperial sealJade sealSeal scriptSeal impressionNational sealSeal authority

Synonyms

  • 印— seal, stamp (general term)
  • 章— seal, stamp (more common modern term)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The emperor's seal (玉玺) was a symbol of power.
  • He studied ancient imperial seals (古代玺印).
  • The jade seal (玉玺) was passed down through dynasties.
  • This museum displays a replica of the imperial seal (皇帝玺).

Collocations

  • Imperial seal(玉玺)
  • Jade seal(玉玺)
  • Seal script(玺文)
  • Seal impression(玺印)
  • National seal(国玺)
  • Seal authority(玺权)

Idioms

  • The Imperial Seal of the Realm(传国玉玺)
  • Seal of State Authority(国玺之重)
  • Jade Seal Passed Through Generations(玉玺传承)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The imperial seal, especially the 'Heirloom Seal of the Realm', was a symbol of the Mandate of Heaven and legitimate imperial authority.
  • Originally made of jade, the seal was used to authenticate imperial documents and decrees.
  • The character 玺 was reserved exclusively for imperial use during many dynasties, with common seals using 印 instead.

FAQ