What do Chinese guardian lions symbolize?

Feng shui Fu Dogs or Imperial Guardian Lions are a strong feng shui protection symbol. Fu Dogs were traditionally placed in front of Imperial palaces, temples, and government offices. They were also a traditional feng shui symbol of family wealth and social status and were placed in front of wealthy homes. And there are some other things you don't know.

Legend has it that the lion placed in the Forbidden City is an auspicious beast that protects the palace. Because the lion is the king of the beasts, it looks sturdy, powerful, powerful, and very powerful. The rulers of the past have believed that the lion can not only avoid evil but also bring auspicious air.

But beyond that, the lion also represents function and rank.

The Function and Rank of the Bronze Lion in Front of Taihe Gate

The pair of bronze lions arranged in front of the Gate of Supreme Harmony is the largest in the Forbidden City and also the largest existing in my country. The bronze lion is not gilded, and there is no knowledge of it. It is presumed to be cast in the Ming Dynasty. The sculpture and casting process of the bronze lion in front of Taihe Gate is extremely delicate. Whether it is the whole body of the bronze lion or the ornamentation on the bronze seat, they are all exquisitely carved, and the surface is smooth and clean. It is integrally cast by the ancient lost wax method.

Moreover, unlike the bronze lion in front of Qianqing Gate, the ears of the bronze lion in front of Taihe Gate are erected, seeming to be wary of uninvited guests entering the palace.

The head and body of this pair of large bronze lions are round, and the base is square, which means "a place with a round sky". The height of each copper lion reaches 2.4 meters, and it squats on a copper seat 0.6 meters high, with a height of 3 meters. The base is a white marble Xumi seat. Xumizuo is not only huge in size, but also engraved on four sides with dragons (up and down positions), octopus (Sanskrit, meaning "lotus petals", located on the upper and lower owls), and flower ribbons (positioned on the waist, meaning "Jiangshan"). All generations passed on from generation to generation"), three clouds (position of the corner of Gui) and other exquisite patterns.

This pair of bronze lions are divided into males and females, and their specific functions are different. The male lion is on the east side, with a curly mane on the headdress, a bell hanging on the neck, staring at the front, and hydrangea on his right foot, symbolizing royal power and dominance of the world.

The lioness is on the west side, head down slightly, her left foot caresses the cub, symbolizing the prosperous offspring.

What is the meaning of the "pimple" on the copper lion head?

This pair of bronze lions have spiral curls (hot bumps) on their heads. There are strict registration regulations for this kind of "pimple hot". As an exotic lion, its hair should be soft. However, the lion's hair in front of the government's gate was "permed into curls."

In fact, the number of "pimples" on the head of this lion statue is to use the number to show the status of its owner. In the whole set of etiquette, 13 is the highest, that is, 13 lumps should be carved on the stone lion head in front of the palace gate of the first grade, which is called "Thirteen Taibao"; below the first-grade official, for each lower level, there is a decrease of 1 lump; the second grade 12 There are 11 lumps at the third stage, 10 lumps at the fourth stage, and 9 lumps at the fifth and sixth stages. The gatekeepers of official residences below the seventh stage are not allowed to be placed in front of the gate.

However, this is only the official sequence setting. In the Forbidden City, the number of "hot bumps" on the bronze lion's body is 45. This is because the Forbidden City wants to emphasize the status of the feudal emperor as the "Ninth Five-Year Lord". The existence of the bronze lion is to protect the feudal kingship, so the number of lumps on its body is naturally indispensable. The multiplication of 9 and 5 of the Ninth-Five Lord is 45. As a result, the number of bumps on the bronze lion in front of the Supreme Harmony Gate is 45.