Back to Show
Monstrum
Taotie: The Mystery of Chinese Mythology’s Famous Glutton
Season 3
Episode 3
This influential ancient monster from Chinese mythology predates the written word. Inspired by ancient bronze and jade iconography detailing the face of a bulging-eyed, gapping-mouthed beast, the Taotie creature is both mysterious and notorious, inspiring fear with its horrible gluttony. The greedy, insatiable appetite of the Taotie, one of the four “legendary monsters” of Chinese Mythology.
Support Provided By

9:46
Ever wake up feeling drained? Maybe the Boo Hag's been riding you.

9:01
The okapi sounds made-up—but it’s very real (and very cute).

10:20
What makes a monster?

10:27
How did Van Helsing go from academic in Dracula to action hero icon?

14:27
Was the 1952 Flatwoods Monster sighting an alien, a Cold War experiment, or mass hysteria?

8:36
Lore of the ghostly whale skeleton, Bake-kujira, reveals an ominous twist of the marine giants.

10:33
Let’s talk about the eerie and unsettling legend of changelings.

7:11
Rooted in Greek culture, the Christmas monster Kallikantzaros is a goblin-like creature.

8:15
You think you know Gremlins—but their story is far deeper than just the 1984 movie.

32:44
Let’s talk slasher films–their origins, their lasting impact, and why we love them so much!

12:47
Is the Manticore a man-eating monster from Persian myth or simply a misidentified tiger?

12:13
Jiangshi, is a variation on the vampire that you won’t soon forget!