In the autumn of 2023, China Guardian (Hong Kong) Auctions staged its first-ever dedicated auction of ancient seals, shining a spotlight on a niche but historically significant category of Chinese antiques. While most lots were modestly priced, the auction sparked excitement among collectors for its focus on these highly symbolic artifacts.
By spring 2025, the auction house returned with another seal-focused sale, headlined by an extraordinary highlight: an exceedingly rare gold seal with a horse-shaped knob, believed to have been conferred by China’s Western Jin dynasty (265–316 AD) upon the Goguryeo kingdom (37 BC–668 AD), an ancient Korean state.
Measuring just 2.8 x 2.3 x 2.4 cm – barely the size of a fingertip – the seal offers a tangible link to the political strategies of early East Asia, serving as a testament to the Western Jin empire’s frontier governance.
After 21 minutes of intense bidding, the seal hammered at HK$9.1 million on 7 April, more than seven times its pre-sale estimate. Including fees, the final price reached nearly HK$10.8 million (US$13.9 million), setting a new auction record for ancient seals.
Lot 1532 | Golden seal with horse knob
Western Jin Dynasty (265–316 AD)
2.8 × 2.3 × 2.4 cm
Weight: 88 g
Provenance:
- An important Japanese private collection, from 1532 to 1558
Estimate: HK$1,200,000 - 2,200,000
Hammer Price: HK$9,100,000
Sold: HK$10,797,000
Auction House: China Guardian (HK) Auctions
Sale: Important Private Asian Collection of Ancient Seals and Bronzes
Date: 7 April 2025
With its elegantly modeled horse-shaped knob and precise inscription, the gold seal is a remarkable example of Western Jin dynasty artistry. The inscription, carved in balanced, square-cut strokes typical of official seals from this period, reads: "Marquis of Goguryeo, Aligned with Righteousness, Conferred by the Jin Dynasty."
Seals linked to Goguryeo from the Jin dynasty are exceedingly rare. To date, scholars have identified just seven examples, including the present one – the only known example bearing the phrase "Aligned with Righteousness" (Guiyi, 歸義), a term laden with political and cultural significance, and bestowed upon a marquis.
But what did this phrase signify in the context of imperial China? And what does it reveal about the relationship between the Western Jin dynasty and the Goguryeo kingdom?
Goguryeo, one of Korea’s historic Three Kingdoms, emerged from a unique geographical and political landscape that shaped its early development and interactions with neighboring powers. Positioned along the middle reaches of the Amnok (Yalu) River, the kingdom occupied a strategic crossroads influenced by China’s Han dynasty and, later, the Western Jin dynasty. At its height, Goguryeo’s territory spanned northern Korea, parts of present-day northeastern China, and the Russian Far East.
In 108 AD, the Western Han dynasty defeated Gojoseon, Korea’s first ancient state, dismantling its political institutions and establishing a network of commanderies to control the northeastern region. Goguryeo arose in the waning years of the Western Han period, initially as part of one of these commanderies’ jurisdictions and later as a semi-autonomous vassal state under Han rule.
The relationship between Goguryeo and China was far from stable. After the fall of the Western Han, the new imperial court adopted aggressive policies toward Goguryeo, leading to hostilities and disrupted ties. During this period of instability, Goguryeo expanded its territory and influence, though it later resumed its tributary status under the Eastern Han. Even so, its relationship with China remained volatile, alternating between conflict and conciliation.
By the late second century, the collapse of the Han dynasty ushered in a fragmented and turbulent era in Chinese history – the Three Kingdoms period (220–280 AD). The rise of Wei, Shu, and Wu, alongside smaller regional powers like the Gongsun clan in Liaodong, created a shifting political landscape. Goguryeo navigated these alliances carefully, leveraging diplomatic openings to safeguard its sovereignty.
Yet proximity to these power struggles also left Goguryeo vulnerable. Repeated invasions devastated its capital on more than one occasion. Still, the kingdom endured, adapting to the changing realities of the time.
The present seal (top left corner) and other similar Guiyi seals bestowed upon other regions from the Western Han dynasty
When the Western Jin dynasty unified China in 265 AD, it sought to stabilize its borders and incorporate neighboring states into its sphere of influence. Goguryeo pledged allegiance to the Jin court as part of a long-standing strategy of balancing submission with autonomy. In return, the Chinese imperial court conferred titles such as Guiyi – "Aligned with Righteousness" – upon Goguryeo's ruling class.
Although no surviving literary records confirm Goguryeo’s tribute missions to the Western Jin, the discovery of seals from this period provides compelling evidence of its vassal status. Of the seven known examples, this seal is the only one designating a marquis; others were granted to officials of lower rank.
Aligning with the Western Jin was a pragmatic choice for Goguryeo – a way to gain recognition from the dominant power of the time while preserving internal governance. For the Jin, such arrangements reinforced the image of frontier stability and submission, even if actual control remained limited.
The Western Jin’s hold on power, however, was short-lived. Internal strife and invasions by nomadic groups soon weakened its grip. As China’s central authority faltered, Goguryeo seized the moment to consolidate power and expand its reach. The kingdom flourished as one of Korea’s Three Kingdoms – alongside Baekje and Silla – until its eventual fall to the Tang-Silla alliance in 668 AD.