heishi 瓶子

Also heiji. A type of wine vessel with a long slim neck with narrow mouth and round bottom, or narrow mouth, round waist and slim bottom. Ancient examples included Sue ware, sueki 須恵器, called hei, and Persian type, bird-headed vessels imported from Tang dynasty China to Nara period Japan, made of gilt bronze, wood or pewter. In the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, red or black lacquered wood heishi with lacquer painting were made frequently. Often a pair of heishi were dedicated on altars.