Taotie pattern - Taotie pattern

A type of monster design that was often found on bronze vessels from the Yin and Zhou dynasties in China. It is also called a beast face pattern. In addition to bronze vessels, this design can also be found on bone and horn vessels, jade vessels, etc., and it was a design that was used for a long time. This name began in the Song dynasty. It is said that the name was given to this design because of a passage in the "Lu Shi Chun Qiu" chapter of the "Guang Tu" (1092) by Lü Dalin, which states, "A taotie is worn on a Zhou ding, with a head but no body, and it has eaten a human but not yet choked, causing harm to the body itself." This name has been followed to this day. This design is known to be traced back to the Liangzhu culture in the late Neolithic period. Its mysterious appearance not only inspires awe in those who see it, but also seems to invite them into the world of the gods.

[Musha Sho]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、殷(いん)・周時代の、多くは青銅器に表現された怪獣文の一種。獣面紋とよばれることもある。青銅器のほか、骨角器、玉器などにもこの文様がみられることがあり、長期間にわたって愛用された文様である。この命名は宋(そう)代に始まる。呂大臨(りょたいりん)著の『考古図』（1092）の「呂氏春秋」に「周の鼎(てい)に饕餮を著す、首ありて身(からだ)なし、人を食(くら)っていまだ咽(いん)せず、害その身に及ぶ」とあることから名づけられたとあり、今日までこの名称が踏襲されている。この文様は新石器時代晩期の良渚(りょうしょ)文化期までたどれることが知られている。その妖気(ようき)を放つ面貌(めんぼう)は見る人をして畏怖(いふ)せしめるばかりでなく、神々の世界へと誘うごとくである。

［武者　章］

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