The shape of the vase is based on an ancient ritual bronze zun. It is a cylinder with three sections; the lower two of roughly the same height, the upper approximately a third higher than that. The lowest section is tapered above the flared footrim; the middle section is rounded; the upper has a long neck and flares widely at the mouth. The decoration is organized naturally into three zones. In the upper section (the largest) there is a figural scene which portrays a quiet drama. Two attendants stand holding a wrapped lute (qin) at the left, a woman partially concealed is standing in a doorway. At the center is a girl on her knees with an upturned bowl of rice on the floor in front of her, and a scholar standing holding a book looking down at her. At the left are an additional two attendants carrying a wrapped instrument. The center section contains a scene of two men seated on a promontory, one of whom points to six birds in flight overhead. In the lower section, there are three scholars relaxing in a rocky landscape: one is dozing on an overturned wine jar, two are holding cups and conversing. There are two attendants off to the right.