Yi water vessel, 9th-8th century BCE, 6 5/16 × 11 7/8 × 5 5/8 in., 4.2 lb. (16 × 30.2 × 14.3 cm, 1.9 kg), Bronze, China, 9th-8th century BCE, This gourd-shaped vessel is known as a yi and was used as a water container. Yi first appeared during the mid-Western Zhou dynasty (c. 976-886 BCE), and were prevalent in the later Western Zhou and Spring and Autumn periods (c. 885-476 BCE). Before conducting a ritual activity or sitting down to a ceremonial feast, nobility would wash their hands with water poured from a yi like this one. Archaeological excavations reveal that yi were often paired with pan basins. Later, in the Warring States period (c. 475-221 BCE), yi evolved from a footed vessel with rich decoration and an animal-mask handle, such as this one, to a simple flat-bottomed vessel with restrained decoration and a ring handle. The charming features of this vessel include the handle, surmounted by a horned dragon head, and legs, each one a seahorse-like dragon silhouette.