Gluttony is a mysterious monster in ancient myths and legends of China. Its name can be likened to a greedy person, and people generally call this person "gluttony".
It is often said that gluttonous patterns are common patterns on bronzes and are considered to depict gluttonous animal faces. This pattern appears on the jade articles of Liangzhu culture in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, but the gluttonous pattern is more common on bronzes, especially Ding Shang, as early as Erlitou Xia culture bronzes.
This kind of gluttonous decorative pattern first appeared on the jade articles of Liangzhu culture in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River 5,000 years ago, but it was more common on bronzes, especially on Ding, and as far away as Erlitou Xia culture.
However, the name "gluttonous pattern" did not exist in ancient times, but was named by Song people when epigraphy rose. The most beautiful gluttonous mask is 2 1.0 cm high, now in Seattle Library, USA. This decoration usually takes the bridge of the nose as the center line and is symmetrically arranged on both sides.
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The animal face decoration of Shang and Zhou bronzes reflected people's worship of gods at that time, so it had a mysterious and solemn atmosphere. However, there are different opinions about what these mysterious patterns represent. Bronze ware is the embodiment of the ancestors' consciousness of "respecting god" in Yin Shang Dynasty, while the Zhou Dynasty developed into "respecting heaven and legalizing ancestors", forming a trinity of religion, political power and clan power.
The rulers of Shang and Zhou dynasties used the "ferocious terror" of bronze decorations to express the "mysterious majesty" of kingship, so as to express their possession of political power, status and wealth, which was daunting. Slave owners put all their majesty, will, glory, fantasy and hope on these horrible and ferocious ornamentation. Mr. Zhang Guangzhi also thinks that "bronze is politics and power", but he thinks that these animal designs are not for intimidation, but for communication with God.
Due to the low level of productive forces in primitive society, many unexplained phenomena are attributed to the power of God. People are full of awe of the gods, begging for them, pleasing them, and dominating things with the help of divine power.
Therefore, the status of wizards who can communicate with the gods is very high, and the wizard class has become the original imperial ruling class. Sacrifice is the privilege of wizards, and it is also the central link to communicate between man and god and sanctify human order. Wizards communicate with gods with animals on bronzes, so these strange animal patterns also represent mystery and power.