Seal knobs are the carved decorations on the top of Chinese-style seals.
Seal Knobs
Although in modern times tigers and dragons are most common (at least for sale to tourists) in ancient times there was a wide variety in seal knobs. Contact me if you have any corrections, questions, or additions.
Belt hook knob
See: daigouniu
Biniu 鼻鈕
The nose knob, named for its shape, was cast in bronze from earliest times up until the Sui dynasty (581 CE). Until the end of the Wei dynasty (225 CE) both nose and tile knobs were called nose knobs.
Bracelet knob/handle
See: chuanniu
Bridge knob
See: qiaoniu
Camel knob
See: tuoniu
Chihuniu 螭虎鈕
The Chi-tiger knob is named for the “Chi,” a form of hornless dragon. This seal knob was used only by an emperor or empress during the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE).
Chuanniu 釧鈕
Bracelet knob/handle.
Coin knob
See: quanniu
Daigouniu 帶鈎鈕/帶鉤鈕
Belt hook knob. See also: Gouniu.
Deer knob
See: luniu
Douniu
See: fudouniu
Dragon knob
See: longniu
Elephant knob
See: xiangniu
Fish knob
See: yuniu
Fudouniu 覆斗鈕
The upside-down grain measure knob is named for the “dou,” an ancient unit for measuring grain. One author calls this a “covered container knob” while others translate it as an “inverted dou” or “overturned dou” knob. Up to the Han dynasty these were only used for jade seals. This knob was probably a result of the difficulty involved in cutting jade, a very hard stone, into anything other than a simple shape. The example shown is an ancient seal made of jade.
Gouniu 鉤鈕
Hook knob. In the shape of a belt hook. See also: Daigouniu.
Guiniu 龜鈕
The turtle knob has been used since the Qin State (778–207 BCE) of the Warring States Period for both official and private seals. They were often cast or carved in gold. Sometimes also called a tortoise knob.
Hook knob
See: gouniu
Horse knob
See: maniu
Huniu 虎鈕
Tiger knob.
Huanniu 環鈕
Ring/circle/link knob.
Jueniu 橛鈕
Peg knob. During the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127 CE) the nose knob evolved into the peg knob (without a cord hole).
Kuainiu 塊鈕
Block knob.
Lion knob
See: shiniu
Longniu 龍鈕
"Dragon knobs" were formerly associated with imperial seals but now are often found on modern seals made for tourists. The example shown here is from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Luniu 鹿鈕
Deer knob.
Maniu 馬鈕
Horse knobs were given to the northern ethnic minorities of China during the Han, Wei, and Jin Dynasties (206 BCE-581 CE). Today they are often used by people born in the year of the horse.
Nieniu 捏鈕
Pinch knob [a knob you hold between your fingers].
Niu 鈕
Knob, or handle. Although seal knobs have sometimes been translated into English in some books as “buttons” (since the word "niu" can also mean a button—in the sense of an on-off switch) this is misleading and shouldn’t be used.
Nose knob
See: biniu
Pavilion knob
See: tingniu
Peg knob
See: jueniu
Pinch knob
See: nieniu
Qiaoniu 橋鈕
Bridge knob. The example shown is from the Palace Museum, Beijing. See also waniu/tile knob.
Quanniu 泉鈕
(Historic) coin knob.
Renxingniu 人形鈕
Human figure/shaped knob.
Sheniu 蛇鈕
Snake knob. The example shown here is from the Palace Museum, Beijing.
Sheep knob
See: yangniu
Shiniu 獅鈕
Lion knob. One of the most common knob shapes found today.
Snake knob.
See: sheniu
Stake knob.
Flat bronze seals with a stick-like handle. A practical style for official seals used since the Jin Dynasty (265-420 CE). The example illustrated is from the collection of the British Museum, London.
Table knob
See: tainiu
Tainiu 台鈕
Platform/terrace knob.
Tanyin 坛紐
Altar knob. To increase literacy the mainland Chinese have, since the 1950s, used "simplified" characters. As a result one simplified character may be used for more than one traditional Chinese character. The traditional character 罈, pronounced "tan," means a jar; the character 壇, also pronounced "tan," means an altar or raised plot of land. I have used the simplified character in this entry although the "altar/raised plot of land" character should probably properly be used.
Taoyin 套印
Cover-and-covered seal.
Tiliangniu 提梁鈕
Handle/strap knob.
Tiger knob
See: huniu
Tile knob
See: waniu
Tingniu 亭紐
Pavilion knob.
Tuoniu 駝鈕
Camel knob. Given to the northern ethnic minorities during the Han, Wei, and Jin Dynasties (206 BCE-581 CE). The example shown here is from the Freer/Sackler Galleries.
Turtle knob
See: guiniu
Waniu 瓦鈕
The tile knob is named for its shape. Until the end of the Wei Dynasty (225 CE) both nose and tile knobs were called nose knobs (see: biniu). Tile knobs have a larger hole than nose knobs; tile knobs with a wider hole are known as bridge knobs (see: qiaoniu).
Xiniu 觿鈕
A knob in the shape of a traditional bone pick for untying knots ("xi").
Xiangniu 象鈕
Elephant knob. The example shown is from the Palace Museum, Beijing.
Yangniu 羊鈕
Sheep knob. Given to the northern ethnic minorities during the Han, Wei, and Jin Dynasties (206 BCE-581 CE).
Yinbi 印鼻
Seal knob or handle, literally: seal nose. See also: yinniu.
Yinbing 印柄
Seal handle, an elongated handle on ancient bronze seals.
Yinniu 印鈕
Seal decoration, seal knob, literally: seal knob. See also: yinbi.
Yuniu 魚鈕
The fish knob, named for its shape, was popular for only a short time during the Qin and Western Han dynasties (361 BCE-8 CE). They were usually cast in bronze.
Zhuniu 柱鈕
Post knob.
Zimuyin 子母印
"Mother and child seal" with one or more small seals nested inside a larger one.