CHINESE INSCRIPTION ON THE LACQUER CUP FROM NOIN ULA MOUND 20 (MONGOLIA)

In 2006, the Russian-Mongolian Expedition found a lacquer cup in burial mound 20 in the Noin Ula Mountains. This article proposes reading and translation of the 46 Chinese characters carved on the bottom of the cup. The inscription has made it possible to date the cup, to identify the workshop where it was restored or improved, and to learn the ranks and names of the offficials supervising the work. The cup, a typical artifact of the Han period, was produced at the Kaogong workshop (city of Chang’an) which supplied the Chinese Imperial Court with the lacquer ware.