Leiwen

Taotie mask with leiwen.

Old graphology of the chinese word "thunderlight".

It is a drawing made with a spiral line which symbolizes a thunderlight. It is often used to decorate the background of bronzes during the Shang (XVIIth century-1027 before JC) and Zhou (1027-221 before JC) dynasties.

Kui

The kui, also called dragons are creatures that we can find on the bronze of the Shang dynasty. You only see their profiles and only one leg.

Two facing kui represent a taotie.

Taotie

Animal mask frequently drawn on chinese rituals bronzes and also on funeral ceramics. Its exact definition is not well known.