⚠High-contrast monochrome image; some fine strokes are faint but the text remains legible.

Pictorial Compendium of the Three Talents, Volume 1

Category of Implements and Tools Ancient Vessels

Supplemented and compiled by Wang Siyi, courtesy name Zhongshu, of Yunjian

original: "Yunjian Wang Siyi Zhongshu Fu" (雲間王思義仲叔甫). Yunjian is a poetic name for the Songjiang region near modern Shanghai. Wang Siyi was the son of the primary author, Wang Qi, and assisted in finalizing this massive 106-volume project.

These terms refer to the Ritual Bronzes—highly decorated bronze containers used in ancient Chinese ancestral worship. During the Ming Dynasty, when this book was published, scholars were deeply interested in "Evidential Learning" and the study of these ancient objects to understand the rites of the Zhou and Shang dynasties.

The items listed above serve as a table of contents for the illustrations to follow in this volume:

Tripod Cauldron original: "Ding" (鼎). A three-legged vessel used for cooking or ritual offerings; it served as a primary symbol of state power.
Hollow-legged Cauldron original: "Li" (鬲). Similar to a Ding, but with distinctive hollow legs designed to increase the surface area for heating food.
Ritual Wine Jar original: "You" (卣). A wine container often featuring a swing handle and ornate lid.
Three-legged Cup original: "Jue" (爵). A distinctive wine cup with a spout and two small "pillars" on top, used for pouring libations.
Beaker Cup original: "Gu" (觚). A tall, slender wine vessel with a flared mouth and base.