饕とう餮てつ

noun

taotie; mythological Chinese creature

Refers to a gluttonous monster from Chinese mythology, often depicted as a motif on ancient bronze vessels. Used in historical and art-historical contexts.

• この青せい銅どう器きには饕とう餮てつ文もんが刻きざまれている。

  This bronze vessel is engraved with a taotie pattern.

noun

greed; avarice; covetousness

Archaic extended meaning derived from the creature's insatiable appetite. Rarely used in modern Japanese outside of classical or literary contexts.

• 古ふるい文ぶん献けんでは、饕とう餮てつは強ごう欲よくの象しょう徴ちょうとして扱あつかわれることがある。

  In old texts, 饕餮 is sometimes treated as a symbol of greed.