Ancient Royal Seals of Japan



1 Emperor's seal, Taiho 3 (Mommu's reign, 703 AD), Minister of Interior, Tempyo 17 (Shomu, AD 745)

2 ? mae Kuni, Taiho 2 (Mommu, 702 AD), Todaiji Temple, Tempo-hoji 3 (Junnin, 759 AD)

3 Emperor's seal, Tempyo-hoji 4 (Junnin, 760 AD)

4 Yamaji kuni, Tenei 1 (Toba, 1110 AD), ? Higashi Temple, Hoki 2 (Shotoku, 770 AD), ? Island, Tempyo-hoji 3 (759 AD)

5 Shinto shrine, Saiko 3 (Montoku, 856 AD)

6 Prime minister, Jogan 8 (Seiwa, 866 AD), ? Mae Kuni, Taiho 2 (Mommu, 702 AD)

7 Ise Outer Shrine, Jogan 5 (Seiwa, 863 AD)

8 Prime minister, Jokyu-Kangi (Juntoku, 1219-1229 AD), ? Ryu kuni, Showa 8 (Nimmyo, 842 AD)

9 Ise Interior minister, Shoryaku 3 (Shirakawa, 1079 AD)

10 ? Tenryaku 9 (Murakami, 955 AD), ? (uncertain date)

11 Spring shrine, Tenei 17 (Sutoku, 1126 AD)

12 ? kuni, Tempyo 8 (Shomu, 736 AD), Todaiji Temple (uncertain date)

13 Defense Secretary, Tempyo 17 (Shomu, 745 AD)

14 ? kuni, Tempyo 2 (Shomu, 730 AD), Yamato shrine (uncertain date)

15 Left capital, Tempyo 7 (Shomu, 735 AD)

16 ? institute (uncertain date), Toji Temple, Tempyo-hoji 6 (Junnin, 762 AD)

17 Minister of Treasury, Tempyo 17 (Shomu, 745 AD)

18 Yamato kuni, Tempyo Jingo 1(Shotoku, 765 AD), ? province, Tempyo-shoho 3 (Koken, 751 AD)

19 Emperor's seal, Enjo 4 (Daigo, 927 AD)

20 ? kuni, uncertain date, ? , Tenpyo-hoji 4 (Junnin, 760 AD)

21 Right capital, Tenpyo 5 (Shomu, 733 AD)

22 ? kuni, Tenpyo-soho 2 (Koken, 750 AD), Books Tenpyo-soho 3 (Koken, 751 AD)

23 Middle Minister, Tenpyo 17 (Shomu, 745 AD)

24 ? kuni, Tenjo 2 (Saga, 825 AD), Love, Shohei 2 (Suzaku, 932 AD)

25 Shiki fu minister, Tenpyo 17 (Shomu, 745 AD)

26 Yamakata kuni, Tenpyo 15 (Shomu, 743 AD), ? kun, Tenpyo 20 (Shomu, 748 AD)
27 Justice minister, Tenpyo 17 (Shomu, 745 AD)
28 Iha? kuni, Tenpyo-soho 1 (Koken, 749 AD), ? kun, Tenpyo-jingo 2 (Shotoku, 767 AD)

29 Eunuch, Tenei 8 (Toba, 1117 AD)

30 Horyuji Temple, Kanen 3 (Momozono, 1750 AD)

31 Taisei, Koan 9 (Go-Uda, 1286 AD)

32 Kami seal Hoki 9 (Konin, 778 AD)

33 Jingu seal

34 Hojo family, Tenei-? (Toba) period

35 Taisei, Engi 3 (Daigo, 903 AD)

36 Hojo family, Kyoroku 3 (Go-Nara, 1530 AD)

37 Todaiji Temple, Tempyo-hoji 6 (Junnin, 761 AD)

38 ? temple, Hoki (Konin, 770 AD) period

39 Public Minister, Tempyo-jingo 3 (Shotoku, 767 AD)

40 ? State

41 Denno seal, Ninnan 2 (Rokujo, 1167 AD)
42 Toji temple
43 Shinto shrine seal, uncertain date

44 jomon kuni, Tempyo 9 (Shomu, 737 AD)

45 Executive department, Tenpyo 17 (Shomu, 745 AD)

46 ? kuni, uncertain date, Yamato, Tengi 2 (Go-Reizei, 1054 AD)

47 Taisei, Showa 2 (Hanazono, 1313 AD)

48 ? kuni, Tempyo shoyo 8 (Koken, 756 AD)
© 2007, Kwan Choi. All pictures are from Ancient Seals of Japan (日本 古印 ), printed probably in the 1700s during the Edo period, but the publication date is uncertain