King of Na gold seal

This seal from the Na period sits in the Fukuoka Art Museum and carries a snake-shaped handle above a cube-shaped body. The engraved characters appear as depressions on the underside and read raised when stamped.

The Chinese ruler handed the object to the king of Na in the year 57 as a sign of official connection. This gesture marked an early contact between the Han realm and the domains on the Japanese islands.

The snake on the handle connects to Han Dynasty symbolism and shows the relationships between rulers in ancient East Asia. Visitors can see the Chinese characters carved deeply into the alloy, speaking of the rank given to the recipient.

The museum displays the seal in a climate-controlled case that protects the delicate metal. Visitors find it in the permanent exhibition rooms, where it can be viewed without extra reservation.

A farmer uncovered the artifact in 1784 while repairing an irrigation channel on Shikanoshima Island. Today the discovery site is considered an important location in the region and is noted on the island itself.

Location: Fukuoka

Inception: 57

Made from material: gold, silver, copper

Address: 福岡県福岡市中央区大濠公園1-6

Website: http://museum.city.fukuoka.jp/gold

GPS coordinates: 33.59016,130.40168

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:02