Bronze vessels were items of luxury and power throughout the entire Zhou period, and changes in the types and decoration of these vessels illustrate the many cultural and political shifts that characterize this long and complicated era of Chinese history. This bronze you vessel was used for storing and serving wine. A three-character inscription was cast into the cover and interior; the first two characters are encased by a symbol known as a yaxing. Fu ding has been suggested as a possible reading of the first two characters; the third remains undeciphered. Traditional taotie (mythic creature) motifs, set against a background of thunderclouds (leiwen), decorate the cover and two registers on the body. The vessel's shape and the band of circles enclosing the main register derive from Shang-period prototypes. The addition of realistic horns to the taotie motif on the lid and lower register transforms this motif into an image resembling an animal, perhaps a buffalo.

An interest in depicting real animals is a recurring feature in the art of the Western Zhou. The elaboration of the flanges along the edges of this vessel into distinct yet abstract forms typifies the slightly baroque quality of decoration that is also associated with the Western Zhou period. The combination of Shang-inspired decoration and Western Zhou innovations help to date this vessel to the earlier part of the period.