璽 (xǐ) - Imperial seal — the official seal used by

璽Tone 3

xǐ ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

璽 · xǐ

Imperial seal — the official seal used by emperors and monarchs in ancient China, symbolizing supreme authority and power.

Imperial seal — the official seal used by

Usage highlights

Imperial sealHeirloom SealSeal scriptSeal authoritySeal officeSeal keeper

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

  • 民— common people (antonym to imperial authority)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The emperor's seal (玉玺) was a symbol of imperial power.
  • The Heirloom Seal of the Realm (传国玉玺) was passed down through dynasties.
  • Seal script (玺文) was used for official documents.
  • The imperial seal ceremony (用玺仪式) was an important ritual.

Collocations

  • Imperial seal(玉玺)
  • Heirloom Seal(传国玺)
  • Seal script(玺文)
  • Seal authority(玺权)
  • Seal office(玺府)
  • Seal keeper(掌玺官)

Idioms

  • The Heirloom Seal of the Realm(传国玉玺)
  • Seal of State Authority(国玺)
  • Imperial Seal and Jade Pendant(玺绶)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The imperial seal represented the Mandate of Heaven and legitimate rule in Chinese imperial tradition.
  • The most famous was the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, carved from the Heshibi jade, which symbolized imperial authority from Qin to Tang dynasties.
  • Possession of the imperial seal was crucial for establishing political legitimacy throughout Chinese history.

FAQ