This is an example of the white porcelain jars with dragon designs known as yongjun that were used for ceremonial purposes at the royal court. Yongjun were originally decorated with cobalt-blue underglaze, but due to a shortage of cobalt pigment, they began to be produced with iron in the seventeenth century. This is a distinct example featuring a matching lid with a lotus bud-shaped knob and designs of branches with plum blossoms and bamboo to complement the dragon motif. The jar is presumed to have been used for serving liquor during royal rituals.