*Qi* (器, vessel): According to the *Shuowen Jiezi*, it means "year"; according to the *Guangya*, it means "bottle"; according to the *Yupian*, it means "earthenware vessel." The *Kangxi Dictionary* cites Yan Shigu's annotation: "A *ran* vessel is one with a large belly and small mouth."[1] From this we can see that *ran* vessels were containers for storing water or grain, widely used in folk production and daily life. The "Flat *Ran*" has a body that is symmetrically flattened in a circular form from top to bottom and left to right. It appears full and well-proportioned, with a wide mouth that flares outward. Above the mouth, a lid with mother-and-child lines—thicker at the top and thinner at the bottom—decorates the vessel, fitting tightly together so that the shoulder and neck appear full without being bloated. The triple-curved spout extends naturally and gracefully, with the rounded handle curving with proper restraint. The overall form is dignified and stable. --- [1] The annotation describes the characteristic shape of traditional *ran* vessels used in ancient China.