A ''yi'' is a shape used in ancient Chinese ritual bronzes. It has the shape of half a

gourd Gourds include the fruits of some flowering plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae, particularly '' Cucurbita'' and '' Lagenaria''. The term refers to a number of species and subspecies, many with hard shells, and some without. One of the e ...

with a handle (often in the shape of a dragon) and usually supported by four legs. It is believed it was used to contain water for washing hands before rituals like sacrifices.

References

* http://arts.cultural-china.com/en/30Arts2067.html * http://arts.cultural-china.com/en/30Arts2015.html

External links

The great bronze age of China: an exhibition from the People's Republic of China
an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on yi Chinese bronzeware {{china-stub