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Slithering into history: Legacy of snake artifacts
Slithering into history: Legacy of snake artifacts
Seal of the King of the Dian Kingdom with a snake-shaped knob
Updated: Mar 27, 2025
www.chinaservicesinfo.com
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This gold seal with a snake-shaped knob is a symbol of power, inscribed with four Chinese characters in seal character reading "Seal of the King of the Dian Kingdom". Dating to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), the seal is believed to have been granted by the Emperor Wu of Han to the King of Dian after the Dian Kingdom pledged allegiance.
Unearthed in Jinning district, Kunming, Yunnan province, it is now housed at the National Museum of China. As the Year of the Snake approaches, let this snake-shaped seal light up your Spring Festival celebrations! Happy Chinese New Year's Eve.
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