Gluttony is a mysterious monster in ancient myths and legends of China. It is described in the ancient book Shan Hai Jing. It is shaped like a sheep's face, with eyes under its armpits, tiger teeth in its hands and a big head and mouth.
The film "The Great Wall" also follows the feature of "eyes under the arm", and greedy eyes are placed on both sides of the forearm. The gluttons besieging the Great Wall are monsters who are not afraid of fire. They are fast and fierce, and they can catch soldiers with their claws. We can see the appearance of gluttony, the main color is bronze, and there is even a bronze tripod on the head, just like the gluttony on the bronze tripod has become a real person.
Gluttony, as a decorative pattern, first appeared on the jade articles of Liangzhu culture in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River 5,000 years ago. But gluttonous patterns are more common on bronzes, especially on ding, such as the most famous Simuwu Dafang Ding.
The gluttonous pattern on the mousse tripod is a big mouth with a head.
Not terrible. Most researchers don't think this is cannibalism.
A man or a man's head is a wizard, and his role is to communicate the connection between the human world and the sacred world. In primitive costumes, masks and painted pottery, the patterns of people and animals are integrated. For example, the fish pattern painted pottery on Banpo's face, people and fish fit well; The decorative patterns on the jade cong in Liangzhu, people and monsters form a complete picture.
In the bronze age, people were different from animals. At this stage, the mysterious power of animals is obviously greater than that of people, which is manifested in the image of gluttony and "gluttony eating people". When the power of man becomes stronger, man and beast will compete for the power to communicate with the universe, and the picture of man and beast will also be presented in the image. Today, when we see such shapes and patterns, we can still be shocked by the vitality.
Many scholars believe that gluttony is a stage, a source and a type of dragon. But why did the dragon finally become a symbol of the country instead of overeating? From Nu Wa's stone smelting to the period of the Five Emperors of Yanhuang, it can be said that many countries are striving to be emperors. The five emperors coexist in space, each dominating the other; In time, this is a continuous war period. In this movement period from the Five Emperors of Yanhuang to the establishment of Xia Dynasty, the most consistent symbol is the lofty and fierce image of gluttony.
Gluttony is suitable to be a symbol of the times, but it is not suitable to be a cultural symbol beyond the times. Because of the connection between heaven and earth, the dragon has gained the symbolic status of culture. Just as during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Legalists won, but it will not win a cultural victory beyond the times. Confucianism has achieved a symbolic position in culture because of its comprehensive concern for family, country and the world. Although gluttony has not become a symbol of the whole culture, it has an irreplaceable position in China's traditional culture and art.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the gluttonous patterns gradually declined, and the dragon and phoenix patterns appeared romantic and ingenious artistic features. In the Qin and Han Dynasties, they began to show great artistic momentum and Gu Zhuo's expression techniques. With the arrival of the prosperous new century in Sui and Tang Dynasties, dragons and phoenixes naturally began to look elegant, and the unique temperament of the royal family in Song Dynasty created elegant and exquisite patterns. Finally, in the Ming and Qing dynasties, it can be said that the dragon and phoenix pattern is its swan song, showing complex and ingenious artistic characteristics.
As the prototype of the monster, he is very greedy. It is said that gluttony has no body because he eats too much of his body, only a big head and a big mouth, and finally he eats himself.
Su Dongpo once wrote an article "Best Fu".
Su Dongpo added cuteness to gluttony. Up to now, friends who like food are called "gourmets", and foodies also like to call themselves "gourmets".
"Zuo Zhuan Wen Zhuan Gong Eighteen Years": "Yao, a guest in four doors, four families fierce, chaotic, gluttonous, cast the charm of four generations. Because of Yao's collapse, the world is one, and it is one. I think I am the son of heaven and use sixteen phases to eliminate the four evils. "
"Lu Chunqiu Yi Tianjun": "The north of Sakamoto, the land of eagles and spies, the land of gluttony."
As one of the "Four Fierces", gluttony will definitely not look good.
However, with the development of the times and the continuous evolution of decorative patterns, they are also elegant and fresh on the porcelain of the Qing Dynasty.
Like this:
And this:
Or like this:
Where is there any ferocious shadow?
Today, gluttonous patterns are still our favorite.
Cute! I love it! Not ugly at all!