The Zun Ritual Vessel original: 尊 (zun). A Zun is a tall, trumpet-mouthed wine vessel used in ancient Chinese ancestral rituals. Along with the tripod (Ding), it was a core component of ceremonial bronze sets used by the nobility during the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

Terminology featured on this page: Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms (Sancai Tuhui); Zun vessel; Utensils (Qiyong); Ritual Vessels (Liqi).

The accompanying woodcut illustrates a classic bronze Zun. The vessel is characterized by its wide, flared mouth and a stout, rounded body. It is decorated with intricate horizontal bands of zoomorphic patterns, most notably the taotie—a stylized, symmetrical monster mask that served as a signature motif of the Chinese Bronze Age. These vessels were designed to hold wine offered to the spirits of ancestors during formal sacrifices.