Stone Lion

The lion is a symbol of good luck in ancient China. After Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220), lions were presented as tribute to Central China. Due to their majestic appearance, they were believed to have the power to ward off evil, and paintings of lions and stone lion sculptures gradually emerged. The ancient Chinese believed that stone lions could ward off evil spirits and protect the household, so they were often placed on both sides of the entrance: the male lion on the left side was usually carved with its right front paw playing with a ball, symbolizing dignity and nobility; the female lion on the right side was carved with its left front paw touching a cub, symbolizing the continuity of the family line.

Throughout history, stone lions were commonly placed in palaces or imperial tombs. Their artistic form went through a continuous development process and gradually became fixed during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). In the Song Dynasty (960- 1279), stone lions enjoyed even greater popularity, appearing in grottoes, temples, shrines, residences, and gardens. In the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), they were further in- corporated into the daily lives of ordinary people and used as decorative elements in folk architecture. Symbolizing guard- ians of homes, stone lions embody the desire for a peaceful and prosperous life.

石獅

獅子是中國古代的祥瑞之獸。漢代張騫通西域之后，獅子作為貢品被送到中國內(nèi)地。由于其形象威武，被認(rèn)為有辟邪的功能，與獅子相關(guān)的繪畫和雕塑逐漸出現(xiàn)。石獅就是以石頭為材料雕刻獅子形象的建筑裝飾物。中國古人認(rèn)為，石獅可以辟邪鎮(zhèn)宅，常將其放置于大門兩側(cè)：左側(cè)的雄獅一般都雕成右前爪玩弄繡球，象征威嚴(yán)尊貴；右側(cè)雌獅則雕成左前爪撫摸幼獅，象征子孫綿延。

歷史上，石獅往往用于宮殿或帝王陵墓，其藝術(shù)形象經(jīng)歷了一個不斷發(fā)展的過程，在唐代逐漸定型。到了宋代，石獅更廣泛地出現(xiàn)在石窟、寺觀、祠廟、住宅和園林中。明清時期，石獅進(jìn)一步走入普通百姓生活，用于民間建筑裝飾。石獅被賦予家宅守護(hù)者的文化寓意，寄予了中國人期盼平安美好生活的良愿。