The making of such receptacles into the shapes of animals has been a distinguishing characteristic of the Chinese formative arts since ancient times. This can be seen in the bronze vessels of the imperial Yin and Chou Dynasties, while the crafts of the people also made use of the same kind of workmanship.
把器形動物化，本是中國古代以來造型美術的特色之一，這由殷周青銅器已可見之，而在民間美術也同樣應用這種手法。