also: へ
earthenware jar; large clay pot
Archaic term for a large earthenware vessel, historically used for storing alcoholic beverages or other liquids. Not used in modern everyday language; encountered mainly in historical or archaeological contexts.
A large earthenware jar was excavated from the ancient tomb.
This museum displays earthenware vessels that were used to store sake.
Archaic kanji for a large earthenware jar; 瓮 is a variant form. Both are rare in modern use.
Variant kanji for the same archaic vessel; also read へ in some contexts.
Archaic reading for 瓮; rarely encountered outside historical texts.
The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 甕 and 瓮 are both ancient Chinese characters for large earthenware jars, adopted into Japanese with the reading もたい (and へ for 瓮).