noun
taotie motif
Historical term for a stylized animal-face design found on ancient Chinese ritual bronzes, especially from the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Used in art history and archaeology.
See also: 饕餮
この青銅器には饕餮文が鋳込まれている。
This bronze vessel is cast with a taotie motif.
饕餮文は殷周時代の儀礼用青銅器に典型的に見られる。
The taotie motif is typically seen on ritual bronzes from the Shang and Zhou periods.
饕餮 refers to the mythical gluttonous creature itself, while 饕餮文 specifically denotes the decorative motif based on that creature.
From Chinese 饕餮 (tāotiè), a mythical gluttonous beast, combined with 文 (pattern). The motif's exact origin and meaning are debated among scholars.