Taotie is the 5th son of the dragon. Sometimes it looks like a wolf but sometimes it looks like a tiger. Ancient Chinese believed that it is very fond of eating.
Its image usually appears on the bronze vessels from the Shang (16th-11th century BC) and Zhou Dynasty (11th Century BC-221 BC). Some even believe that the design of its image can date back to Neolithic jades of the ancient Yangtze River Liangzhu culture (3310-2250 BCE).
There are different versions about the meaning of its image. Some people believe that it has the power to bring wealth. Its image can often be found on ancient tableware and vessels as it can ensure the continuous supply of abundance. Some people believe that it has something to do with the death and the afterworld as its image is commonly found on the vessels used for sacrifices. Some even believe that it guards the entrance to the afterworld.
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