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Function and use
The Zun is a Chinese bronze vessel. This vessel was served as a ritual container to hold wine in Ancient Chinese times. It is a tall wine cup, with no handles or legs. The mouth of the vessel is normally seen as broader than the rest of the body. As a ritual container, its function is to provide the offering of wine to the deceased through ceremonial practices. Depending on the type of Zun vessel, for example the Xi Zun, not only was it used to store wine but also used to keep the wine warm. This is the only bronze piece discovered known to combine the two functions.

Symbolism
The form of the Zun comes in various shapes notably seen as a round or square vase-like form. Through these forms they appear in unique shapes varying different animals. Often, these vessels are found with distinctive and defined decor that symbolizes distinct meanings. The most noticeable symbol through the decor is the taotie (t'ao-tieh). The term t'ao-tieh is known as the demon-face or the face of a sacrificial animal in early Chinese art. This type of face is a common motif found in Chinese ritual bronzes during the Shang Dynasty. It is has also been defined as a mask, vividly shown as two symmetrical bodies that are joined together. The most visually noticeable feature of the mask is the protrudent animal eyes projecting from the bronze surface in which stares at the viewer with a bewitching force. These protruding eyes has also been defined as the eyes of a predator. These animal designs are also iconographically meaningful as the images of the various animals that served as the helpers of shamans and shamanesses in the tasks of Heaven-Earth, dead-living communication.

Ceramic forms
The Zun can be seen in a variety of different vessel forms from simple with limited to decoration to incredibly detailed. There are Zun's that are in the form of animals. Some of the animals that were used are an elephant, ox, sheep, horse, rhinoceros and a bird. The cylindrical shape is repeated throughout with modifications; some Zuns are tall and thin while others are shorter and rounder. For the vessel forms that are cylindrical they are symmetrical. The decoration used on the vessels varies. Some decorated in a way that emphasizes the form of the vessel following the cylindrical form, round a smooth. Some of the taller vessel forms may have flanges on the sides.

Historical and cultural references
Some characteristics of early Shang Zun's consisted of a flaring mouth, high neck, large body. Some may have wide shoulders and a foot ring. During the early Western Zhou there was a Zun modeled after a Gu but it was thicker, larger and the body portion is swelled more than that of a Gu. Small flanges appear on the vessels body and neck while the same decoration is used. The shoulders consist of small animal heads. Late Shang to Early Zhou Zun is slim, flanges start from the mouth of the vessel. The flanges have identical decoration on the sides that show symmetry. Early Western Zhou Zun’s vessels are rounder and smoother. The relief of the vessel emphasizes the form. The vessel has no flanges. The bird motif is more prominent now than in previous vessels.

Important examples
One: Four-goat square Zun
 * Period: Shang Dynasty
 * Overall Height: 58.3 cm
 * Weight: 34 kg
 * Location: National Museum of China, Beijing

The square zun was excavated in 1938 from Yueshanpu, Ningxiang, Hunan Province.It has a generous mouth with a flared flat lip, a long neck, projecting shoulder, shallow belly and high ring foot. There are flanges on the four corners and in the middle of all four sides. The neck has a design of triangular one-legged dragons and the flanges become the noses of the animal face designs below, with curly horns, round protruding eyes and a scrolled tail. On the shoulder are high-relief designs of dragons with their three-dimensional heads on the centre and their bodies wriggling along the sides. On the four corners of the shoulder are four protruding rams’ heads with curly horns, the belly of the vessel forming their chests and their legs extending down the ring foot. Their heads have engraved thunder patterns while there are scales on their chests and backs. Both sides are decorated with an elegant design of a bird with a high crest. The ring foot also carries a design of one-legged dragons. This vessel combines the techniques of engraving, high relief and three-dimensional relief in a dignified and refined form with intricately worked designs. It is a perfect fusion of moulding and artistic design representing the very best of bronze-making by the traditional clay mould technique.

Two: Fu Hao owl-shaped Zun
 * Period:Late Shang Dynasty
 * Overall Height: 46.3 cm
 * Mouth Wide: 16.1 cm
 * location:National Museum of China, Beijing

It was excavated in 1976 from the tomb of Fu Hao, Anyang, Henan Province.Zun is a wine vessel.This bronze wine vessel with the design of owl, a ferocious bird, belongs to those with bird and beast designs. The whole vessel uses thunder pattern as the background, the beak and breast carry cicada pattern, the two sides of the neck carry the Kui pattern (Kui is a legendary dragon with one horn and one foot), the wings carry snake pattern and the tail has the design of a flying owl. The whole piece has rich, delicate and diverse patterns. In appearance, this owl looks solemn and powerful with its two legs and tail form a triangle support the vessel. The shape is firm and lifelike. It is a perfect combination of plane and three-dimensional designs. Inside the vessel’s mouth are two inscribed characters “Fuhao”, the name of a woman. The oracle inscriptions during the reign of the King Wuding of the Shang Dynasty have many records about this woman. Being the wife of the king, Fuhao involved herself in major state affairs, participated in wars, and presided over sacrificial ceremonies. She led troops to conquer many parts of the country, thus enjoying an illustrious status and being a legendary figure.

Three: Dragon and tiger Zun
 * Period: Late Shang Dynasty
 * Overall Height:50.5 cm
 * Diameter at mouth: 44.7cm, Diameter at foot: 24 cm

It was excavated in 1957 from Yueyahe, Funan, Anhui Province.This is a tall and large zun, with a trumpet-shaped mouth, girded neck, broad sloping shoulder, belly which narrows at the bottom, and a high ring foot. The neck is decorated with three narrow bands, the shoulder with three protruding wriggling dragons with upright conical horns, open mouths, extended bodies and coiled tail. Behind their tails is another small dragon design. The belly has a design of a tiger, with raised head in high relief and bodies in shallower relief, extending on both sides of the head. Below the tiger’s head is a squatting man with arms raised above his shoulders, his head inside the jaw of the tiger. Below both designs is an animal face design with the corner flange of the vessel forming its nose, T-shaped horns and a scrolled tail. The ring foot has three cross-shaped piercings and, on the lower part, animal face designs. The mixture of the techniques of engraving, high relief and three-dimensional relief on the shoulder and belly combined with the delicate and beautiful designs make this a masterpiece of Shang bronze work. In ancient times, non-Chinese peoples lived in Huaiyi Region, where this piece was excavated, and it shows the influence of Shang bronzes combined with local features.

Four: Ritual wine container (zun) with masks, dragons, and birds
 * Period: Late Shang dynasty, Middle Anyang period, ca. 12th century B.C.E.
 * Overall Height: 36.6 cm
 * Wide:37.4 cm
 * Weight: 34 kg
 * Location: Freer Gallery of Art F1951.19

This example probably excavated from Anyang, Henan province, China.And it used to belong to C. T. Loo & Co., New York, from at least May 11, 1949.Then Freer Gallery of Art purchased it from C. T. Loo on November 28, 1951.

Five: Zun with dragons
 * Period: Western Zhou Dynasty
 * Overall Height:20.5 cm
 * Wide:17.5 cm
 * Location:Freer Gallery of Art F1911.40 ,purchased from C.T.Loo on December 8,1943

Six: He zun
 * Period: Western Zhou
 * Overall Height: 38.8 cm
 * Weight: 14.6 kg
 * Location: Baoji Museum, Shaanxi

Seven: Lidded ritual wine container (zun) in the form of a bird
 * Period：Middle Eastern Zhou Dynasty
 * Overall Hight：26.5 cm
 * Wide: 13.5 cm
 * Deep: 20 cm
 * Location: Freer Gallery of Art F1961.30a-b

This example was Reportedly excavated near Taiyuan, Shanxi province, China.To 1915:Marcel Bing (1875-1920), Paris, to 1915.From 1915 to 1961:Eugene (1875-1959) and Agnes E. (1887-1970) Meyer, Washington, DC and Mt. Kisco, NY, purchased jointly with Charles L. Freer (1854-1919) from Marcel Bing through C.T. Loo, Lai Yuan & Co., New York in December 1915.From 1961:Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer, 1961.

Eight: Xi Zun[One]
 * Period: Late Spring and Autumn
 * Overall Height: 33.7cm
 * Length:58.7cm
 * Weight: 10.76kg

location:Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Xi(牺）in ancient Chinese means solid coloured animals used as sacrifice.This vessel is shaped like a vivid ox,which is strong and steady.There are three holes on the ox's back. The middle hole can hold a small wine pot so hot water can be poured into the hollow belly from other two holes. On this basis,researcher infer that Xi Zun might be used to warm wine. Xi Zun is extremely unique because of its distinctive style and design.This example is the most famous one but not the only one.

Nine: Xi Zun[Two]
 * Period: Middle Western Zhou Dynasty
 * Overall Height: 24 cm
 * Length: 38 cm
 * Depth of Belly: 10.7 cm
 * Location: Shaanxi history museum,Xi'an

This example was excavated in 1967 from Hejiacun,Qishan County,Shaanxi.It is a wine container shaped like an ox as well,but with a square hole on its back and a tiger-shaped lid.The tail of the ox is the handle.The exaggerated mould is very mangificent.

Ten: Gold and silver inlay cloud-patterned rhinoceros Zun
 * Period: Western Han (206 BC – AD8)
 * Overall Height: 34.4 cm
 * Length: 58.1 cm
 * Location: National Museum of China, Beijing

It was excavated in 1963 from Doumacun, Xingping, Shaanxi Province.This vessel is in the form of a powerful standing rhinoceros with a raised head with pricked ears and sharp tusks. Its eyes are bright black glass beads, giving it a graceful expression. The lid on its back is hinged at the front allowing it to be opened. Cloud decorations cover the entire body with spirals in between, all inlaid with gold and silver, suggesting the fine hairs of the rhinoceros. This is a realistic piece with flowing and lively decoration, and deserves to be considered a masterpiece of Western Han gold and silver inlay.

Further readings
and Institute of East Asian Studies,University of California,2000. vols.Beijing:Harvard-Yenching Institute. bronzes).4 Vols,Beijing:Wenwu Chubanshe.
 * L.Mattons and Jerry Norman(trans.)Ealy China Special Monograph Series,Vol.4,Berkeley:Society for the Study of Early China
 * Rong Geng 容庚.1941.Shang Zhou yiqi tongkao商周彝器通考（Comprehensive studies on Shang and Zhou ritual vessels).2
 * Ma Chengyuan 马承源.1986-1990.Shang Zhou qingtongqi mingwen xuan商周青铜器铭文选(Selected inscriptions on Shang and Zhou
 * Qiu Xigui 裘锡圭.1988.Wenzixue gaiyao文字学概要.Beijing:Shangwu yinshuguan.English translation:Chinese writing,Gilbert
 * Lothar Von Falkenhsausen.2006.Chinese Society in the Age of Confucius(1000-250 BC),Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press.
 * Kesner, Ladislav. "Artibus Asiae Publishers." Artibus Asiae Publishers. 51.1/2 (1991): 29-53. Web. 1 Dec. 2012.