Its characteristic vice was also its greatest virtue: because it devoured anything it came upon, even evil spirits avoided it, and the Chinese considered it auspicious. Its fearsome features often appear on ancient bronze or ceramic dining vessels--as a warning against overindulgence as well as a charm against evil.
它那血盆口、大尖牙，外加一雙可怕眼睛的尊容，因此常出現在青銅或陶瓷的食器、酒器上，一來提醒人們飲食不要過量，二來用以嚇退邪魔異物。