The inspiration for the design came from a Chinese Ming dynasty-era Kylin-shaped vessel used for warming alcohol. After being preserved underground for over 400 years, this vessel was unearthed in 1986 in Luzhou, China. Its design is extremely clever - when it was to be used, hot coals were first put in the stove inside the cavity, transferring the heat to the circular bowls found on both sides; then the cups holding the alcohol were placed inside these bowls, so that the alcohol was heated as the temperature of the water inside the bowls increased.