Zhen Yi--Animal head Washbasin

It was unearthed in Dongjia Village, Qishan, Shaanxi Province in February 1975 and is now stored in the Qishan County Museum of Shaanxi Province. It is a wash basin, 20.5 cm high, 12 cm deep, 17.5 cm wide, 31.5 cm long, and weighs 3.85 kg. The overall shape of the vessel is like a sheep, with a beast head (possibly a tiger) at the front of the lid, a curly animal body pattern on the rim, a flat lid in the shape of a pipa, and four beast hoofs. ‌

The inscription of the Zhen Yi is not only of great significance, but also of a unique and simple shape, so it was designated as a national treasure. It has a tiger head and sheep feet, a flat lid and a wide spout, a handle with a bent tongue of a beast head, and four sheep feet, giving it a fierce and majestic look, which is rare in bronze Yi. The shape of the vessel is Yi, and the inscription is self-named He, which clearly tells people that the Yi of the Western Zhou Dynasty evolved from He. The Yi that have been discovered were all made after King Li of Zhou. This Yi is made with exquisite craftsmanship and has the style of the middle Western Zhou Dynasty. Although the inscription calls itself a He, it is an early form of Yi, which makes clear the early shape of Yi.