Jilin province's main International Museum Day event takes place in Changchun on May 18. [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

On May 18, the main 2025 International Museum Day event in Northeast China's Jilin province was officially launched in Changchun. The ceremony brought together representatives from 114 museums and over 200 cultural heritage professionals from across the province.

The event celebrated the progress made by the Jilin Provincial Museum over the past year and outlined new strategies for its continued growth. It also spotlighted Changchun Film Group's upcoming initiatives marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of Changchun Film Studio, a major event in Chinese cinema history.

The gold seal that belonged to the Loyal Marquis of Gaogouli (Goguryeo) from the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316). [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

A highlight of the ceremony was the donation of a rare gold seal that belonged to the Loyal Marquis of Gaogouli (Goguryeo) from the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316) to the Ji'an Museum. The seal was cast as a single piece with a horse-shaped knob, measuring 2.4×2.3 centimeters on the face, standing 2.8 cm high, and weighing approximately 88 grams.

The inscription refers to a title granted to a Gaogouli leader, reflecting the diplomatic ties between the Western Jin and minority groups in the northeast.

The seal had been lost for over 1,700 years before being acquired at an auction in Hong Kong and generously donated by a private collector.

Scholars noted its exceptional craftsmanship and historical significance. Among the few surviving seals linked to Gaogouli's tributary relationship with the Western Jin Dynasty, this is the most prominent, helping to confirm the administrative presence of the central Chinese court in the region and offering invaluable insights into the frontier history of Northeast China.