Branding Iron for Bow Marked “御 (The Sovereign)” Branding Iron for Bow Marked “御 (The Sovereign)”

This branding iron was used on the King’s bow. A branding iron refers to a stamp that is heated in fire. It was primarily used on horse acquisition tablets, issued by the state, and on the royal and military goods. Its use was to prevent any counterfeit activity by branding the tablets that had to be carried as a certificate for official occasions, such as entering a palace, night patrol of the city, opening and closing of the doors of the palaces and city, supplying horses, orders of urgent work, night duty in royal palaces, and military drafts.

This branding iron was used on the King’s bow. A branding iron refers to a stamp that is heated in fire. It was primarily used on horse acquisition tablets, issued by the state, and on the royal and military goods. Its use was to prevent any counterfeit activity by branding the tablets that had to be carried as a certificate for official occasions, such as entering a palace, night patrol of the city, opening and closing of the doors of the palaces and city, supplying horses, orders of urgent work, night duty in royal palaces, and military drafts.