Three-legged Golden Toad
三足金蟾 (sān zú jīn chán)

Watercolor and Alcohol Markers, 2020
Wen Ting Dong 董文婷

The Three-legged Golden Toad is a legendary creature that lives on the moon. This toad was seen as a symbol of good luck by the Chinese and is able to bring riches to a family. Legends had that this toad used to disturb human life, causing a god of wealth named Liu Hai (刘海) to punish it by cutting off one of his hind legs. To make up for his wrongdoings, the toad traveled with Liu Hai and spun gold thread out of his mouth for the poor. Since toads hibernate (which the Chinese saw as dying and coming back to life), the Three-legged Golden Toad also has the ability to be reborn, much like how the moon he lives on can continue to wean and grow.
 

Fun Fact - Like the moon, toads also symbolize the yin power of the yin-yang cycle and the legendary Moon Palace on the moon where the goddess Chang'e (嫦娥) lives in is also known as the Toad Palace (蟾宫) in some cases. (Wow, what a great name for a goddess's home)