How were bronze pans used in ancient Chinese ablutions?

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Chinese bronzes Bronze gu from Anyang, Henan province, China, Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 bce); in the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery and Mary Atkins Museum of Fine Arts, Kansas City, Mo.

In ancient Chinese ritual practices, the pan served as a specialized vessel for ceremonial ablutions. It was typically designed as a large, shallow, circular bowl, often supported by a low ring base.12

During the washing process, the pan functioned as a basin to collect the water used for cleansing. It was frequently used in conjunction with another vessel known as the yi, which was employed to pour the water over the hands or body of the participant. While the pan was a distinct vessel type, its use in these rites highlights the importance of ritual purity and the sophisticated material culture of the Shang and Zhou dynasties.12