Yan 甗 - combination of li and a pot (zeng 甑) from early Shang to Spring and Autumn period (height 35 cm). The yan was a kind of metal steamer. The food was put in the zeng, the water in the li was heated by a fire between the three legs. The water vapor rose through holes or a grid in the bottom of the upper pot. There exist objects with one long stove-like li and three pots upon. From Western Zhou on, we also find square yan vessels. The character indicates that the vessel had a ceramic origin.