Twin Li Vessels of the Marquis of Chin Recently Acquired by the
National Palace Museum
Yu Kuo-ch’ing
Department of Antiquities
National Palace Museum
Abstract
In August, 2002, the Shanghai Museum held an international conference in
conjunction with its exhibition Treasures of the Jin State. However, due to insufficient
publicity, the Marquis of Chin li vessels recently acquired by the National Palace
Museum, Taipei, were not included in the discussion. The omission inspired doubts
about the authenticity of the vessels’ inscriptions. In an effort to address this concern,
the present essay argues that, in light of their casting technique, adornment, shape,
and inscription style and corrosion, the vessels are indeed authentic. Furthermore, by
comparing the li containers with other vessels excavated from the Chin royal cemetery,
the paper also suggests that the vessels were originally buried in Tomb #1.
Key words: Li Vessel of the Marquis of Chin, Chin State, bronze, inscription,
decoration