封泥 Clay Seal001

3D Model

Sealing clay (feng ni) was a clay-based sealing system used in ancient China to authenticate official documents and prevent tampering. Documents were bound with cord, clay was placed over the knot, and a seal was pressed into the clay. Once dried, the seal could only be opened by breaking the clay, ensuring document integrity. This system flourished from the Warring States period (7th-3rd centuries BCE) through the Qin and Han dynasties (3rd century BCE - 3rd century CE), becoming essential for government correspondence during the highly developed Han bureaucracy. Today, discovered sealing clay serves as valuable archaeological evidence, providing insights into ancient Chinese administrative systems, official ranks, and place names through the seal impressions preserved in the clay. These artifacts continue to supplement written historical records and demonstrate the sophistication of ancient Chinese document management.