Twenty-five precious Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) imperial seals will appear in the city of Hefei, Anhui province, on October 20.

The first imperial seal was created when Qin Shihuang destroyed the remaining Warring States and united China. The imperial seal system has lasted since then under the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). It was seen as a legitimizing device, signaling the Mandate of Heaven. During turbulent periods, such as the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280), the seal became the object of rivalry and armed conflict.

The highlight of the show is the imperial seal from Emperor Qianlong (Chien-lung), who ruled for much of the 18th century. Emperor Qianlong himself was a major patron of the arts, seeing himself as an important 'preserver and restorer' of Chinese culture. He personally directed the design and production of imperial workshops and through his connoisseurship exerted a profound influence on the arts.

Crafted from green jade, this square seal is surmounted by a knob, crafted in the shape of twin reclining dragons, which anchors a yellow tassel. The six-character inscription is carved in three lines. The jade seal inscribed with the phrase 'Treasure of the Rare and Ancient Son of Heaven', carved on the orders of Emperor Qianlong, symbolizes both his patronage of the arts and his elaboration of the age-old practice of seal imprinting.

The highlight of the Qing Dynasty imperial seals exhibition in Heifei is the imperial seal from Emperor Qianlong (Chien-lung).

Edited by Michael Thai, Huang Pei