Why are Chinese stone lion statues different from real lions?

History Lions are not all species in China. The image of lions began in the Han Dynasty. It is said that lions were introduced from the Western Regions. According to legend, during the reign of Emperor Zhang of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Dayue clan in the Western Regions paid tribute to the Chinese emperor with a golden lion as a gift. Later, with the introduction of Buddhism, the lion became a spiritual beast endowed with divine power. In Chinese culture, the lion is more of a mythical animal than a real-life animal, and together with the unicorn, it has become China's spiritual animal. Hui Lin, an eminent monk of the Tang Dynasty, said: "Suanni is a lion, and it came out of the Western Regions." I don't know since when, the lion has become the mascot guarding the door. And gradually integrated with Chinese culture. The shape of the lion has different characteristics in different dynasties. During the Han and Tang Dynasties, it was usually powerful and powerful, during the Yuan Dynasty, the body was slender and powerful, and during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was more docile. In the Qing Dynasty, lion carvings have been basically finalized. "Yangzhou Painted Boat Record" (written in 1795) stipulates: "Lions have separate heads, faces, bodies, legs, teeth, crotches, embroidered ribbons, bells, spiral threads, rolled embroidery beads, "The stone lions with different characteristics not only have different characteristics of the times, but also have obvious regional characteristics. Generally speaking, the stone lions in the north have a majestic appearance and simple carvings; the stone lions in the south are more spiritual, lively in shape, and have many carvings. The little lions are not only under the hands of the lioness, but also some climb on the lion's back, which is lively and cute. The origin of stone lion gates: Chinese people have always regarded stone lions as auspicious objects. Among the many famous gardens in China. Stone lions of various shapes can be seen everywhere. In ancient times, a pair of stone lions were placed in front of the gates of government offices, temples, and mansions of wealthy families to guard the houses. Until modern times, the tradition of placing stone lions to guard houses and courtyards in front of the gates of many buildings has not been lost. So, how did the custom of using stone lions to guard the door come into being, and when did it originate? Lion, in zoology, belongs to the cat family of Mammalia. The male has a strong body shape, a big head and a broad face, with stylish hair and a very powerful posture. Its origin is not in China but in Africa, India, South America and other places. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian was sent as an envoy to the Western Regions, which opened up the exchanges between China and other countries in the Western Regions, and lions were able to enter China. "Book of the Later Han Dynasty. Biography of the Western Regions": "In the first year of Emperor Zhanghe (87 AD), (the Parthian Kingdom) sent an envoy to present the lion and the talisman." This refers to the Parthian Kingdom (equivalent to today's Iran) in Western Asia. ) sent envoys to send rare gifts to Liu Huan, the then Emperor Zhang of Han Dynasty: lions and fuba (a kind of lin-shaped animal without horns). This caused quite a stir in Luoyang, the capital of the country at that time. From then on, the lion, a guest from afar, began to enter the folk life of the Chinese people. Not only was it treated with courtesy, but the Chinese people also loved it very much, respectfully calling it an "auspicious beast", and it was carried to the throne of the king of beasts, which is as good as the tiger. status. Li Shizhen's "Compendium of Materia Medica" states that "the lion came out of the countries in the Western Regions and became the chief of all beasts." The good luck of lions in China also benefited from the introduction of Buddhism to China during the Han Dynasty. "Lengxialu" says: When the Buddha Sakyamuni was born, he "pointed one finger to the sky and the other to the earth", roared like a lion and said: "I am the only one in heaven and earth." Therefore, Buddhists regard lions as solemn and auspicious divine beasts and worship them doubly. From now on, the Buddhist saying that the sound of the Dharma shakes the world and frightens the beasts is called the "lion's roar". Many temples in Taishan, a sacred Buddhist site in my country, enshrine statues of Manjusri Bodhisattva riding a lion. Legend has it that Manjushri Bodhisattva, who specializes in the wisdom of the world, first came to Mount Wutai on a lion to appear and preach. Wutai Mountain became the place where Manjushri Bodhisattva preached. With such majesty of lions, traces of stone lions began to appear in front of the tombs of emperors and nobles during the Han and Tang dynasties. But at that time, it was only placed in front of mausoleums and tombs. As a sacred beast in Shinto, it was often accompanied by stone horses. Stone sheep and other stone statues are placed together to intimidate and arouse people's awe. The stone lions at this time had not yet entered the common people, and their shapes were obviously different from the stone lions that later guarded the gate. That is, there was no tall stone pedestal under the stone lion statue. This can be seen in the ancient stone lion relics of the Han and Tang Dynasties. Clearly seen. When stone lions came to the people and became the sacred beasts guarding the gates, this custom was formed after the Tang and Song Dynasties. According to Mr. Cheng Zhang's "Interesting Talks about Stone Lions in the Yuan Dynasty" (see "Literary and Historical Knowledge" Issue 9, 1998), most residents in the capital of the Tang Dynasty lived in "fangs", which were walled, In residential areas where there are square doors to facilitate fire prevention and theft prevention, the square gates are mostly made into archways with the names of the squares written on them. A pair of large stones are placed on the foot of each square pillar to prevent wind and earthquakes. Craftsmen carved lions, unicorns, sea beasts and other animals on large stones, which are both beautiful and have the auspicious meaning of bringing good fortune and auspiciousness. This was the prototype of using stone lions and other auspicious animals to guard the gate.

Since the Song and Yuan Dynasties, fangs have withdrawn from the stage of history. In order to promote their own reputation, some wealthy families have simplified the style of the original fang gates and transformed them into gate towers, which resemble the pillar stones used in the original fang gates and carved stone lions and other auspicious animals. On the pillars, this wind is preserved and becomes a habit. There is a clear record of this custom in the article "Analysis of Jin Zhi Ji Yi. Customs" which records the local customs of the Yuan Dynasty: "In the capital, it is known that the official's family has a lot of tax. At the head of the Jieku gate, lions are mostly made of pig iron, and there are lions outside the left and right doors. This is the earliest and most detailed record of the appearance of gatekeeper stone lions in my country. It can be concluded that the Yuan Dynasty was the beginning of my country's gatekeeper stone lions moving from the palace to the private sector. Most of the gatekeeper stone lions we saw squatted on a pedestal carved from a large stone. This was obviously a relic evolved from the original pillar stone. What is the purpose of placing a stone lion in front of the gate? There are four popular theories among the people: one is to avoid evil and bring good fortune. The ancients believed that stone lions could ward off evil spirits, so they were first used to guard tombs. This kind of spiritual beast in people's minds is also called "avoiding evil". In people's folk life, stone lions are not only used to guard gates, but also set up at rural intersections to have the same function as "Shi Gandang". They are used to hold down houses, ward off evil spirits, suppress bad luck, and protect the peace of the village. Therefore, using stone lions to guard the door can ward off evil spirits and resist the harm brought to people by monsters and monsters, which reflects people's psychological requirements for praying for peace. Second, predict floods. In folklore, lions are said to have the ability to predict disasters. It is said that in the event of natural disasters such as flooding or land sinking, the stone lion's eyes will turn red or bleed. This is a sign that the disaster is coming, and people can take emergency evacuation. Here the stone lion has become a prophet of disaster. Third, show your power. In ancient times, stone lions were often used to guard the gates of palaces, palaces, government offices, and residences, showing the power and dignity of the owner. For example, the two pairs of majestic stone lions guarding the gates of the imperial city in front of Tiananmen Square in Beijing embody the supreme power of the emperor. It has a sacred and inviolable meaning that is powerful in all directions. Fourth, art decoration. Stone lions are also an indispensable decoration of ancient buildings. For example, two large stone lions are used to guard the railings at the east end of the Marco Polo Bridge in Beijing. Not only are stone lions carved on the capitals of the columns at both ends of the bridge, but some stone lions also have several small lions hidden on their bodies. These stone lions are male and female, large and small, with vivid expressions and extremely exquisite craftsmanship. The smallest lion is only a few centimeters. They are not only numerous in number, but also looming and unpredictable, so there is a saying that "there are countless lions in Marco Polo Bridge". In 1962, Beijing cultural relics workers numbered the stone lions on Marco Polo Bridge and finally counted 485 stone lions in total. Marco Polo Bridge is famous all over the world for its stone lions and has become a masterpiece of architectural art. After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, stone lions often had a "hydrangea" under their paws, and female lions often had a cub under their feet. There are also paintings and patterns of lions rolling embroidered balls among the people. This is nothing more than the symbolic meaning of entertainment, peace and love in the world, and reflects people's good wishes for peace and harmony. Nowadays, stone lions have been inherited as part of traditional Chinese culture, and no one believes in the superstitious elements. There are also others, such as unicorn, tiger, eagle, etc. How to use: There are rules for the placement of the stone lions guarding the door. Generally speaking, they are one male and one female, in pairs, and generally there is a male on the left and a female on the right, which is in line with the traditional Chinese philosophy of yin and yang where men are on the left and women are on the right. The male lion placed on the left side of the door is usually carved with his right front paw playing with a hydrangea or with a hydrangea between his two front paws; the female lion on the right side of the door is carved with her left front paw caressing a lion cub or with a lion cub lying between her two front paws. The placement of stone lions on both sides of the gate is based on the direction of people coming out of the gate. When a person comes out of the gate, the male lion should be on the left side of the person, and the female lion should be on the right side of the person. When entering from the outside, it is just the opposite. If there are a pair of stone lions inside and outside the door of some buildings, outside the door (that is, the direction of entering), the male lion is on the right and the female lion is on the left; inside the door (that is, the direction of exit), the male lion is on the left. , the lioness is on the right. In other words, if you come out of the gate, there must be a male lion on the left side of the door and a female lion on the right side. Special significance The situations described above are general, but there are some exceptions. For example, the stone lions in front of the Guandi Temple inside Jiayuguan, the stone lions in front of the Confucius Mansion in Qufu, and the stone lions on the north and south sides of Donghuamen Street in the Drum Tower. The shape of these lions is quite special. There are no hydrangea or lion cubs under their claws, making it difficult to distinguish between male and female. In addition, the two pairs of stone lions on the front and back sides of the four-column and three-gate square on Mount Tai, where Confucius ascended, are male and female on the left and male on the right, which is exactly the opposite of the usual situation, and their meaning is unknown.

Stone lions usually use the Xumizuo as their base, and there are brocade pavilions on the base (spread on the Xumizuo, with the four corners hanging on the four sides of the Xumizuo). Lions have different shapes, and they have been beautified and modified in China. The basic shape is full of curly hair, majestic and majestic. Cultural meaning There has never been a unified statement on the cultural meaning of stone lions. One view is that lions are auspicious animals that can drive away evil. In the book "Beijing Situation", it is believed: "Stones represent reality, lions represent thoughts, and the words reflect the hard work of predecessors and future generations." As a kind of architectural decoration, stone lions are mostly used in palaces. , temples, government agencies (ancient government agencies) and the entrances of residences of senior officials, nobles and wealthy businessmen. In modern times, stone lions are generally placed at the entrance of some shops. Famous Stone Lions The more famous lions include the two pairs of lions in front of Tiananmen Square, the lions outside the Sheji Altar Gate in Zhongshan Park, Beijing, the lions in front of Peking University, the Cangzhou Iron Lions and the more than 400 lions on the pillars of Marco Polo Bridge. As the saying goes, "The stone lions of Marco Polo Bridge - countless." Symbolic meaning For thousands of years, in Chinese national culture, stone lions have always been a symbol of protecting people's good fortune and peace. It is not afraid of the cold wind and the scorching sun, is down-to-earth, and will always be with you loyally; it is noble, dignified, and has a royal demeanor; it is mighty and auspicious, and is regarded as a treasure to protect the country and protect the country. This is a true portrayal of stone lions always guarding people's good fortune and peace no matter the historical changes, no matter when and where, and this can bring a strong resonance to the audience of brand communication. The forms and legends of folk stone lions can be said to be endless, but they are all closely connected with auspiciousness and celebration. In ancient towns in the mainland, there is such a familiar folk song: "Touch a stone lion's head, and you will have no worries in your life; touch a stone lion's back, and you will live a lifetime; touch a stone lion's mouth, and your husband and wife will not quarrel; touch a stone lion's butt, and you will never get sick, and start over again. When you touch it, wealth will flow like water." The stone lion is regarded as the "patron saint of the Chinese people." Stone is originally cold and emotionless, but lions carved from stone have always conveyed the meaning of good luck, peace and tranquility. Feng shui effects of lions: Lion decorations: Lion: an auspicious animal, the king of beasts, unstoppable and powerful, not only can ward off evil spirits, but also bring auspiciousness, can relieve various evil spirits, and also strengthen If the official power or the owner's yang energy is adversely affected by the window, a pair of stone lions can be placed facing the mouth to remove evil spirits, and it has the meaning of life power. Any profession that relies on oral communication, such as lawyers, artists, etc., can place a pair of figures in the office to help make money. But there are certain things to do when placing lions, and they cannot be placed randomly. Place lions of different qualities in different locations. 1. The lion should be placed in the northwest. This is because firstly, the lion was introduced to China from the Western Regions, so the northwest is the place where it is most active and it occupies a favorable geographical location; secondly, because the lion belongs to the Qian Gua, it lives in the northwest, and the five elements belong to gold. Therefore, lions (especially bronze lions or gold lions) can best exert their effect when placed in the northwest. At the same time, the West is also suitable for placing lions. 2. Lions should be placed in pairs. It is advisable to place lions in pairs, one female and one male. And the male and female must be distinguished, and the left and right cannot be inverted. When placing the lions, as long as they take care of each other, they will not be placed wrongly. If one of them is broken, it should be replaced immediately with a brand new pair of lions, and the remaining one should not be left in its place. 3. The lion's head must face outside the house. Lions are very fierce and have strong evil spirits. The Feng Shui layout is used to prevent evil spirits and ghosts from entering the house, so the lion's head should face outside the house. If placed in a window, the lion's head must also face the window. 4. Lion head gates can block evil spirits. Lions are often used to defuse evil spirits outside the house. Therefore, if you cannot place a stone lion on the gate to sit in guard, you can add a metal lion head on the gate, which can also block evil spirits. The lion looks fierce, unstoppable and powerful, and is the king of beasts. All over the world, people regard lions as auspicious animals, and lion statues can be seen everywhere on the five continents. Although lions are not a native product of China, China has a unique lion culture. During festive seasons, lion dances are held across the country. People put on colorful lion coats and imitate lions walking, sitting, lying, pitching and jumping. Among them, the dance of "Double Lions Playing with Hydrangea" symbolizes endless life, family reproduction and social prosperity. The auspicious pattern of a lion rolling a hydrangea also has the same meaning. The image of the lion often appears in Buddhist classics and Buddhist statues. The Wisdom Buddha Manjushri rides a lion, which adds auspicious meaning to the lion. 5. The left is a male lion, the right is a female lion, and the side is a female lion. In China, the ancients believed that lions can not only ward off evil spirits, but also bring auspiciousness. The combination of lion culture and Kanyu culture has produced a majestic treasure of the house - lion statues of various materials and shapes.

It not only appears outside palace offices and wealthy families, but also at the entrances of some temples and Taoist temples, in front of mausoleums, and on bridges. A pair of majestic lion statues are also placed. In ancient times, the government and wealthy families were the ruling class and aristocratic class of society. The lion occupied the supreme position among the beasts, and the lion statue also became a symbol of authority. The lion statue outside the official gate also became an "official". The lion on the left side of the palace represents the "grand master", which is the highest official rank in the court; the lion on the right side represents the "shaobao", the bodyguard of the crown prince. Anyone who has been to the Forbidden City in Beijing knows that in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony there is a pair of bronze lions that can be called the king of lions. They are majestic, tall and beautifully cast. The lion on the left is a male lion, teasing the hydrangea with his right paw, symbolizing authority. The lion on the right is a female lion, teasing the lion cub with her left paw, symbolizing inheritance from generation to generation. In ancient houses, the main function of placing lion statues was to control evil spirits in the house, so that evil spirits and monsters outside the door would not dare to enter the house and disturb people. Modern people also like to place lion statues, but because many people do not understand lion culture and culture, they abuse and place lion statues casually, causing the mighty lion statues to lose their due "function". Some commentators in Hong Kong and Taiwan believe that lion statues should be placed in the northwest and west. The reason is that lions were introduced to China from the Western Regions, so the northwest and west are the directions where they are most familiar and active, and can take advantage of the geographical advantages. Although there is some truth to this statement, the way to place lion statues is not so rigid. In terms of orientation, lion statues can be placed in the southeast, northwest, and southeast. For example, in ancient China, most government offices faced north and south, and lion statues were also placed. Place it in the south. 6. When placing a lion statue, it is important to consider the terrain and terrain. When placing a lion statue, it is more important to consider the terrain. Generally speaking, the place should be placed high rather than low, and there should be an open space in front of it. Only when it is condescending can the lion statue show its extraordinary momentum. With enough space, the lion can be useful. Some people place lion statues in low, narrow spaces, which creates a "lion trapped" pattern. If a modern residence encounters unfavorable conditions such as a straight road or opposite corners of the house, a lion statue can be placed to block it. If the unfavorable factors come from the north, stone lions and jade lions can be placed in the north; if they come from the west, red lions can be placed in the west; if they come from the south, black lions can be placed in the south; if they come from the east, copper lions can be placed in the east. Lion, white lion, etc.