This is a justice cup made for liquor. A porcelain dragon head and neck are attached at the inner bottom of the cup. There are two small holes, one at the inner bottom of the cup, and another one at the outer bottom of the cup. This is a normal drinking cup, unless it is filled all the way to the top. Then, all the liquid is drained into the base and the "greedy" pourer gets no drink at all.
Although the exact origin is not known, it is addressed in the work of Xunzi (453-221 BCE), one of the three great early architects of Confucian philosophy. This vessel symbolized the endless desires of human beings. Duke Huan of Qi kept it by his side as a reminder to be cautious of these desires and to maintain a peaceful mind. Later, when Confucius visited Duke Huan's shrine, he noticed that the vessel had holes but didn't leak until it was overfilled. Confucius used this observation to teach his disciples the importance of being prudent despite their wisdom, practicing humility and respect even when holding power, being courageous but cautious, and remaining humble despite wealth. The vessel's symbolism became a lesson on balancing various aspects of life.
Inspired by the justice cup for liquor, Gong Dao Bei for tea is a tea pitcher commonly used in the traditional Chinese tea ceremony. It is used to ensure an equal distribution of the tea's flavor and strength among multiple tea cups. The Gong Dao Bei acts as a fairness pitcher where tea is first poured before being distributed into individual cups.
Here's how it works: after steeping the tea leaves in a teapot, the tea is poured into the Gong Dao Bei. From there, it is poured into each tea cup, ensuring that every cup receives an equal and consistent amount of tea. This practice is especially common when enjoying high-quality teas, where consistency in taste and aroma is highly valued. The Gong Dao Bei helps in maintaining the integrity of the tea's flavor, allowing everyone to experience the tea in the same way.
A very similar cup exists in the West. Just like the justice cup in China, Pythagorean cups spills their contents if filled up too much. The cup was invented 2500 years ago by the Greek philosopher Pythagoras of Samos (570-495 BC), who is known for his Pythagorean theorem.
The Pythagorean cup serves as a humorous way to teach moderation and self-control, as filling the cup too much results in the drinker getting drenched. This concept is similar to the Chinese Justice Cup, which operates on the same principle of self-regulation but is typically used for liquor or wine rather than water.
Pythagoras Cup Explanation for Upper Grades- Protons Talk
Pythagoras Cup Tutorial for Lower Grades- The Dad Lab
These videos show how a greedy cup works. Resources are available for upper grades and lower grades.
