Title: Square Lidded Wine Ewer (Fangguang)
Creator: Once Known
Date: ca. 1050-975 BCE
Location: China, Henan province, Luoyang
Medium: Bronze
Dimensions: H x W x D: 22.9 x 10.7 x 24.6 cm (9 x 4 3/16 x 9 11/16 in)
Repository: Freer Gallery of Art at the National Museum of Asian Art
The most prominent figure is the dragon as it dominates the lid as the tiny bird perches on its forehead, coexisting perfectly. When we look at the body of the vessel we see a Taotie, an ancient Chinese mythological creature, appearing on all 3 sides of the vessel. The Taotie is also known as one of the “four evil creatures of the world”, apparent through its sinister and menacing stare. Might the motif of the Taotie be a warning sign of the “evil” that might be unleashed if one drinks too much wine? Throughout history, the effects of wine have been understood through an existing cultural framework. In this case, drinking lots of wine can lead to erratic and sometimes regrettable behavior. When looking at the frontal view of the vessel, there is this contrast between the inviting smile of the dragon and the vicious stare of the Taotie.
Sources:
Square lidded wine ewer (Fangguang) with taotie, dragons, and birds, Freer Gallery of Art. Accessed February 17, 2021. https://asia.si.edu/object/F1949.10a-b/
“Square Lidded Wine Ewer (Fangguang) with Taotie, Dragons, and Birds – Google Arts & Culture.” Google. Google. Accessed February 17, 2021. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/square-lidded-wine-ewer-fangguang-with-taotie-dragons-and-birds/RgFfW7lREbt-5A.
“The ‘Four Evils’ Are Still out There.” archive. shine.cn, April 1, 2017. https://archive.shine.cn/sunday/now-and-then/The-four-evils-are-still-out-there/shdaily.shtml
