漢代筆記 vol.15 上海博物館：晉歸義氐王印金印，對比嘉德香港1079.7万港元成交「晉高句驪歸義侯」 - Shanghai Museum, Han Dynasty Golden Seal ‘Jin Gui Yi Di Wang’

秦漢時期，中原王朝根據與周邊各民族不同的關係制定了一套有別於內郡的官印制度，用於賜封歸附中原王朝或相互修好的部族首領。以金、銀、銅質及王、侯、君、長的官號區別不同等級，又以駝、馬、羊、蛇鈕式作為不同族別的標誌。三國、魏晉仍然沿襲了這一制度。這一類印章是中原王朝與兄弟民族政治關係的實物見證，也是華夏民族逐漸融合的歷史見證。

“晉歸義氐王”金印為西晉王朝頒發給歸附內郡的氐族首領的官印。此方金印重87.5 克，印文鑿刻而成，線條犀利明快，佈局跌宕起伏，可謂“疏可走馬、密不容針”，是晉代鑿印的代表風格。

近期，嘉德香港售出一方類似方印，晉高句驪歸義侯金印，成交價：1079.7万港元

根據中國日報長春5月18日電（記者 劉明太 韓俊紅）5月18日，在“2025國際博物館日”吉林主會場活動現場，愛心人士金明南、高金丹夫婦將剛剛在中國嘉德香港2025年春季拍賣會上以1079.7萬港元拍得的一方西晉時期的“晉高句驪歸義侯”馬鈕金印無償捐贈給了集安市博物館，這個流散1700多年的文物終於“回家”了。

這方“晉高句驪歸義侯”馬鈕金印的印鈕印身一體鑄造，印面2.4×2.3釐米，通高2.8釐米，印台高0.6釐米，重約88克。印文“晉高句驪歸義侯”工整清朗，筆划轉接自然流暢，其中的“高句驪”即“高句麗”，是西晉頒發給少數民族高句麗的官印。

晉歸義氐王印金印

尺寸：縱2.25釐米，橫2.15釐米，高3.2釐米

材質：金

Golden Seal of the Jin Gui Yi Di Wang

Dimensions: 2.25 cm (length) × 2.15 cm (width) × 3.2 cm (height)Material: Gold

During the Qin and Han dynasties, the central Chinese dynasties developed a distinct seal system for frontier administration, separate from that of the interior commanderies. This system was used to confer titles and official seals upon tribal chieftains who had submitted to or allied with the central government. These seals varied in material—gold, silver, or bronze—corresponding to the rank of the bearer, such as king (王), marquis (侯), lord (君), or chief (長). Furthermore, the form of the seal knob—camel, horse, sheep, or snake—served as a visual indicator of the ethnic group to which the recipient belonged. This system continued through the Three Kingdoms, Wei, and Jin periods.

The present gold seal, inscribed “晉歸義氐王” (“King of the Di Who Returned to Allegiance under Jin”), was issued by the Western Jin dynasty to a Di tribal leader who had submitted to central authority. Weighing 87.5 grams, the inscription is incised in a forceful and fluid style characterized by dynamic composition and rhythmic spacing—an exemplary manifestation of Jin dynasty seal engraving, following the aesthetic ideal of “sparse enough for a horse to pass, dense enough to admit no needle” (疏可走馬、密不容針).

This seal is a rare and tangible witness to the diplomatic and administrative strategies employed by early Chinese empires in managing relations with frontier peoples. It also stands as material evidence of the historical process of ethnic integration that would come to define the cultural landscape of imperial China.

The gold seal inscribed “Jin Gui Yi Di Wang” (King of the Di Who Returned to Allegiance under Jin) was issued by the Western Jin dynasty to a chieftain of the Di ethnic group who had submitted to the central government and settled within the interior regions. Weighing 87.5 grams, the seal inscription was incised using the technique of chiseling rather than casting. The strokes are sharp and fluid, and the overall composition is rhythmically arranged with a striking visual dynamism—aptly described by the classical aesthetic ideal: “sparse enough for a horse to pass, dense enough to admit no needle” (疏可走馬、密不容針). It stands as a representative example of Jin dynasty chiseled seal script style.

Recently, a similar square-form seal, inscribed “Jin Gao Juli Gui Yi Hou” (Marquis of Goguryeo Who Returned to Allegiance under Jin), was sold at China Guardian Hong Kong's Spring 2025 auction for HK$10.797 million.

According to a report by China Daily (Changchun, May 18, correspondents Liu Mingtai and Han Junhong), during the 2025 International Museum Day main event in Jilin Province, philanthropists Jin Mingnan and Gao Jindan donated this Western Jin gold seal—newly acquired at China Guardian Hong Kong’s Spring 2025 sale—to the Ji'an Municipal Museum. After being lost for more than 1,700 years, this artifact has finally “returned home.”

This gold seal, “Jin Gao Juli Gui Yi Hou”, features a horse-form knob cast integrally with the seal face. Measuring 2.4 × 2.3 cm across the face, with a total height of 2.8 cm and a base thickness of 0.6 cm, it weighs approximately 88 grams. The seal characters are clearly defined and orderly, with fluid and natural transitions between strokes. The term “Gao Juli” (高句驪) refers to the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo, and the seal represents an official title bestowed by the Western Jin dynasty to a noble of this frontier polity.