This late 18th century style jar is presumed to be a large flower vase for court ceremonies.

The central motif is a dragon with five claws and bulging eyes chasing a flaming jewel through clouds. A dragon is a mythical animal featuring characteristics of nine animals: ears of an ox, horns of a deer, eyes of a rabbit, head of a camel, claws of a hawk, belly like a clamshell, palms of a tiger, neck of a snake and scales of a carp. Dragons are believed to obtain divine power to control nature, especially rain, as well as to protect against harmful spirits.

Dragons are general symbols of regal divinity and guardians of the king or emperor. Also as a water controlling deity, they occasionally featured on talismans made of bronze or sketched on paper to be placed all over the palace.