泰山封禪，源於古代帝王封禪祭祀。封禪是古已有之的禮儀。按照《史記·封禪書》張守節《正義》解釋：“ 此泰山上築土為壇以祭天，報天之功，故曰封。此泰山下小山上除地，報地之功，故曰禪”
元封元年（公元前110年）三月，漢武帝率羣臣東巡，至泰山，派人在岱頂立石。之後，東巡海上。四月，返至泰山，自定封禪禮儀：至梁父山禮祠“地主”神；其後舉行封祀禮，在山下東方建封壇，高九尺，其下埋藏玉牒書；行封祀禮之後，武帝獨與侍中奉車子侯登泰山，行登封禮；第二天自岱陰下，按祭后土的禮儀，禪泰山東北麓的肅然山。封禪結束後，漢武帝在明堂接受羣臣的朝賀，並改年號元鼎為元封，割泰山前嬴、博二縣奉祀泰山，名為奉高縣。此後，漢武帝又曾五次來泰山舉行封禪儀式。
本器和田白玉雕琢, 形制為雙璧扣合件. 全器分為四部分: 由上而下, 頂部為蓋面璧, 第二層為崁鑲璧, 第三層為內盒, 底層為底面璧. 本器的核心意義在於崁鑲璧的令牌銘文” 武帝元封二年敕”, 元封元年（公元前110年）三月，漢武帝率羣臣至泰山封禪並改年號元鼎為元封, 元封二年即泰山封禪飾虎紋滿週年, 此器應為漢武帝泰山封禪週年紀念之物. 蓋面璧及底面璧之紋飾均係彩繪淺浮雕. 蓋面璧飾漢武帝親率大軍至泰山封禪之場景. 璧的背景飾紅藍彩繪龍鳳及吉祥紋, 其上大軍之佈置由內而外, 內層為身披紫色盔甲手持矛及盾之步兵, 中間層為身披紅藍盔甲之騎兵, 號步兵及火箭軍, 並飾漢字軍旗, 外層為身披紅藍綠盔甲飾漢字軍旗之馬車隊, 漢武帝即在其中一輛警戒森嚴裝備豪華的馬車內. 底面璧分外中內三層, 最外層背景飾紅藍吉祥雲, 頂端中央飾玉兔蟾蜍紋天宮, 左右飾四靈, 中央飾神獸飛天騎士, 下端左右飾六人面神獸; 中央層背景飾紫藍吉祥雲, 上端左右飾龍紋, 下方左右飾虎紋, 中央兩側飾鳳紋及神獸紋. 最內層飾三武士狩獵圖; 崁鑲璧部分, 上方鑲一長方形玉牌, 玉牌正面上端中央飾表示天庭之如意雲紋圓環, 左右飾龍首相背二龍, 下端飾由左右二鳳及穿雲龍託住之神面, 玉牌背面陰刻篆體” 武帝元封二年敕” 玉牌左右飾金底紅色篆體壽字, 兩壽字下方各鑲如意雲紋神獸, 神獸鑲底陰刻篆體養意延年養意延齡四字 . 本器之相關漢武帝封禪歷史之含金量甚高, 雕琢及彩繪藝術之呈現更是登峰造極, 堪稱中華大地之奇珍異寶.
The object is carved from Hetian white jade, in the form of bi set. The set is divided into four parts: from top to bottom, the cover bi, the inlaid bi, the bi holder, and the bottom cover bi. The core significance of this object lies in the token inscription “Wu Di Yuan Feng Second Year”, in March of the first year of Yuan Feng (110 BC), Emperor Wu of Han led a group of the army to Mount Tai to hold ceremony praying to the heaven and changed the year to name Yuanfeng, and in the second year of Yuanfeng is the anniversary of that ceremony. This object should be the anniversary memorial of that occasion. The cover bi is decorated with the scene of Emperor Wu personally leading an army to Mount Tai to practice the ceremony. The background of the bi is decorated with red and blue painted dragons and phoenixes and auspicious patterns. The army is arranged from the inside circle to the outside circle. The cavalry, the infantry, and the firegun army are in red and blue armor, and decorated with the flag of Han, the outer layer is a caravan wearing red, blue, and green armor. Emperor Wu of Han was in one of the highly guarded and luxurious carriages. For the bottom bi, the outermost layer is decorated with red and blue auspicious clouds, the top center is decorated with rabbit and toad on the moon. The left and right are decorated with four spirits, the center is decorated with flying knights, the lower end is decorated with six human-faced beasts; the center background is decorated with purple and blue auspicious clouds, and the upper end is decorated with dragon patterns on the left and right sides, the lower left and right are decorated with tiger patterns, and the center is decorated with phoenix patterns and animal patterns on both sides. The innermost layer is decorated with three knights hunting pictures. For the inlaid bi, the rectangular plate at the top center with the decoration of the god’s face is supported by the left and right two phoenixes and the cloud-piercing dragon. The back of the plate has incised characters of 武帝元封二年敕. On both sides of the plate, red seal characters for longevity are decorated with a gold base. Two ruyi cloud pattern divine beasts are below, the bases of the beasts are inscribed with four characters ” nourishing means to prolonging life”. This object carries a significant historical value for Emperor Han Wu’s Mount Tai to hold a ceremony praying to heaven. The art presentation of this object is even more extreme, thus it can be called a rare treasure of the Chinese land.