CHIEN

Pinyin Jian, type of Chinese bronze vessel produced during the late Chou dynasty (c. 600-221 BC). It is a large, deep bowl with a heavy rim meant to contain food or water. The chien, which has a simple silhouette, is supported upon a narrow ring base; there are two or four ring handles that freely hang from slightly modeled, monster mask (t'ao-t'ieh) bosses. The decoration of the chien, characteristic of the late Chou period in which the vessel is exclusively found, consists of either densely patterned decorative designs or representations of hunts and similar activities-the broad surfaces being used in ways similar to those on the contemporary hu.