The
Cup of Confucius (fig.),
here on display in the Tan Ky Merchant House in Hoi An,
is the
Asian version of a
Tantalus
Cup and
can only hold
liquid if it is partially full.
It works on the
principle of communicating vessels and has a hidden syphon.
When filled to the top,
the liquid will spill out of the bottom of the cup,
hence it is also known as
Greedy Cup.