During the Chin Dynasty, seals were divided into three categories: Shui for the emperor, noblemen, and ministers; chang for generals and officials; and yin for ordinary people.
到了秦朝，印章更有尊卑之分：皇帝、貴族、大臣之印稱為「璽」；武將或低等官用的是「章」；普通印信則謂之「印」。