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The character 卮 (zhī) denotes an ancient circular drinking vessel or wine cup, common in the Warring States and Han periods. Its semi-enclosed structure contains 㔾 (jié), a component associated with a kneeling figure or seal. Such vessels held a substantial amount of liquid, were made of jade, bronze, or lacquered wood, and had ring handles and three small feet. Beyond its literal use as a banquet cup, the character appears in the Zhuangzi, where 卮言 (zhīyán) "goblet words" metaphorically describes speech that is fluid, adaptable, and naturally adjusts to shifting perspectives, like a tilting wine vessel.
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