Discovering the bronze seal “Ty hoi dai su” in the Quang Trung reign

Abstract

Antiquities of the Tay Son period in particular, and its cultural heritage in general, have not survived much until now. In addition, there are few historical records related to this dynasty. The result is a gap in historical knowledge of the Tayson period, including its little-known government system, state management apparatus, and bureaucracy structure. Recent archaeological, historical, and Sino - Nom studies on Tayson’s cultural heritage have provided new information in the fields, including the introduction of various types of official and military seals. These artefacts contribute new historical sources for the examination of the Tayson dynasty. This paper presents a seal of the Tayson Dynasty that was cast in 1791 during the Quang Trung reign (1791) for Ty hoi Dai su. It was a unique artefact containing tremendous historical, cultural, and scientific values in many aspects, especially allowing us to better understand the state administrative apparatus and diplomatic activities of the Tayson dynasty.