Privy Seal of Japan
Encyclopedia
The Privy Seal of Japan is the Emperor of Japan
's official seal. It is square and its inscription "天皇御璽" is written in the seal script
(篆書:tensho). It has two lines of vertical writing. On the right-hand side is "天皇" (Tenno, "Emperor") and on left-hand side is "御璽" (Gyoji, "honorable seal"). The seal is printed on appointment
documents, such as proclamation
sentences of a law
, government
ordinance
s, treaties
, instruments of ratification
, ambassador
s' credentials, documents from the Prime Minister
or Chief Justice
and also on written appointments of dismissal.
. Although it was originally made from copper, it was manufactured from stone in 1868 (Meiji
) and later, was made from pure gold. The present Privy Seal is pure gold and is about 3 sun (about 9cm) in size and weighs 4.5kg. The master-hand of the seal lived in Kyoto was Abei Rekido (安部井 櫟堂; 1805-1883). He was commissioned to manufacture the State Seal of Japan
in one year in 1874 (Meiji 7). When not in use, the seal is kept in a leather bag. The seal is used with special cinnabar
seal ink specially made in the National Printing Bureau.
If the State Seal or the Privy Seal are illegally reproduced, the penalty is at least two years of penal servitude according to Article 164 the 1st clause of the criminal code.
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
's official seal. It is square and its inscription "天皇御璽" is written in the seal script
Seal script
Seal script is an ancient style of Chinese calligraphy. It evolved organically out of the Zhōu dynasty script , arising in the Warring State of Qin...
(篆書:tensho). It has two lines of vertical writing. On the right-hand side is "天皇" (Tenno, "Emperor") and on left-hand side is "御璽" (Gyoji, "honorable seal"). The seal is printed on appointment
Appointment
Appointment may refer to:Law*Power of appointment, the legal ability of a testator to select another person to dispose of the testator's property*Recess appointment, a method of filling vacancies under U.S...
documents, such as proclamation
Proclamation
A proclamation is an official declaration.-England and Wales:In English law, a proclamation is a formal announcement , made under the great seal, of some matter which the King in Council or Queen in Council desires to make known to his or her subjects: e.g., the declaration of war, or state of...
sentences of a law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
ordinance
Local ordinance
A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code.-United States:In the United States, these laws are enforced locally in addition to state law and federal law.-Japan:...
s, treaties
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
, instruments of ratification
Ratification
Ratification is a principal's approval of an act of its agent where the agent lacked authority to legally bind the principal. The term applies to private contract law, international treaties, and constitutionals in federations such as the United States and Canada.- Private law :In contract law, the...
, ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
s' credentials, documents from the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
or Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
and also on written appointments of dismissal.
History
The history of the Privy Seal of Japan dates back to the Nara periodNara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...
. Although it was originally made from copper, it was manufactured from stone in 1868 (Meiji
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
) and later, was made from pure gold. The present Privy Seal is pure gold and is about 3 sun (about 9cm) in size and weighs 4.5kg. The master-hand of the seal lived in Kyoto was Abei Rekido (安部井 櫟堂; 1805-1883). He was commissioned to manufacture the State Seal of Japan
State Seal of Japan
The Great Seal of Japan is the Japanese official seal of state. It is cubic. The characters 大日本國璽 are carved in the archaic Chinese Seal script...
in one year in 1874 (Meiji 7). When not in use, the seal is kept in a leather bag. The seal is used with special cinnabar
Vermilion
Vermilion is an opaque orangish red pigment, similar to scarlet. As a naturally occurring mineral pigment, it is known as cinnabar, and was in use around the world before the Common Era began. Most naturally produced vermilion comes from cinnabar mined in China, and vermilion is nowadays commonly...
seal ink specially made in the National Printing Bureau.
If the State Seal or the Privy Seal are illegally reproduced, the penalty is at least two years of penal servitude according to Article 164 the 1st clause of the criminal code.