This rectangular jade seal was the official seal of Emperor Gojong, the 26th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty. Its handle is shaped like the head of a dragon, a creature traditionally regarded as a symbol that only the emperor could use. The lords of the feudal states of China used a tortoise-shaped handle for their seals. The use of the title “emperor” in reference to Emperor Gojong reveals that the seal was made after he proclaimed the Korean Empire (1897-1910) and started calling himself emperor in 1897.