The rite of pouring out heated alcohol in honor of spirits, begins early, during the Late Neolithic but matures as a formal institution known in writing and in cast bronze during the earliest phases of the historic Bronze Age, namely the Erlitou (ca 1900-1600BC) and Shang periods (ca 1600-1046BC). As will be analyzed, the jue rite 
[示+爵]which involved use of the bronze tripod jue 爵continues through the Zhou era but by the 9th-8th c BC it changes in physical and written appearance. These changes are radical in casting away an old tradition and adopting a new one, yet not completely new as will be analyzed. The libation rite which begins with the singular use of the eccentric small bronze tripod jue evaporates from the archaeological and paleographic record in favor of what is a short and slim decorated jade rod, known as zan (攒). Why does this occur and what written and archaeological data may be used to illustrate these changes? As will be analyzed and reviewed these changes are a perfect example of historic archaicism and syncretism that underscore the beginning of the end of the Bronze Age. It will become clear that although both small bronze tripod and short jade rod are known archaeologically from Late Neolithic through Zhou periods- one was clearly used for heating alcoholic libations and the other apparently for impregnating the poured hot alcohol with magical powers.