The signature of Emperor Meiji and the Privy Seal in Constitution of the Empire of Japan（photographic negative）

The Privy Seal of Japan is the Emperor of Japan's official seal. The (3 November 1852 — 30 July 1912 or Meiji the Great was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession reigning from 3 February The, more commonly known as the Imperial or Meiji Constitution, was the fundamental law of the Empire of Japan from 29 November 1890 until 2 May 1947 It is square and its inscription "天皇御璽" is written in archaic script (篆書:tensho). It has two lines of vertical writing. On the right-hand side is "天皇" and on left-hand side is "御璽". The seal is printed on appointment documents, such as proclamation sentences of a law, government ordinances, treaties, instruments of ratification, ambassadors' credentials, documents from the Prime Minister or Chief Justice and also on written appointments of dismissal.

History

The history of the Privy Seal of Japan goes back to the Nara period. The of the History of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Although it was originally made from copper, it was manufactured from stone in 1868 (Meiji) and later, was made from pure gold. Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap The, or Meiji era, denotes the 45-year reign of the Meiji Emperor, running in the Gregorian calendar, from 23 October 1868 to 30 July The present Privy Seal is pure gold and is about 3 suns (about 9cm) in size and weighs 4. 5kg. The master-hand of the seal lived in Kyoto, 安部井 櫟堂 (Abei Rekido 1805-1883). He was commissioned to manufacture the State Seal of Japan in one year in 1874 (Meiji 7). The Country Seal of Japan (Japanese 国璽 formerly 國璽 kokuji) is the Japanese official seal of state 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. Vermilion, sometimes spelled vermillion, when found naturally-occurring is an opaque orangish Red Pigment, used since antiquity originally derived

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.

See also

• State Seal of Japan
• Imperial Seal of Japan