This mysterious beast-shaped zun (wine vessel) in celadon is from the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316). It was unearthed from the Tomb of Zhou Chu in Yixing City, Jiangsu Province, and is now in the Nanjing Museum.

The zun is 27.9 cm high and has a mouth 13.2 cm in diameter. Its body is carved with a mysterious beast shaped like a toad. The beast has round eyes, a large nose, projecting teeth, and a wide-open mouth holding a pearl.

Zhou Chu was from the Western Jin Dynasty. He was ill behaved during his childhood, and even as an adult, he was considered a troublemaker by the people in his hometown. Later, Zhou realized the error of his ways and devoted himself to doing good for the local people. Eventually, he was elected an official in the central government of the Western Jin Dynasty.

The fierce beast on the zun symbolizes the crudeness of Zhou Chu in his youth.