The meaning of the stone lion at the door of the building

The lion looks fierce, unstoppable and powerful. It is the king of beasts. Around the world, people regard lions as auspicious animals, and stone 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. The image of the lion often appears in Buddhist classics and Buddhist statues. The Wisdom Buddha Manjushri uses a lion as a mount, which adds auspicious meaning to the lion. Stones are originally cold and emotionless, but lions that can be carved with stone have always inherited the meaning of good luck, peace and harmony. The forms and legends of folk stone lions can be said to be endless, but they are closely connected with auspiciousness and joy.

One is to avoid evil. Ancient Chinese believed that stone lions could exorcise evil spirits, so they were first used to guard the tombs. In people’s folklore life, stone lions are not only used to guard the gates, but also to set up stone lions at the intersections of the country to fortunes houses, avoid evil, suppress ominousness, and protect the safety of the village. Therefore, the use of stone lions to keep the gates can avoid the evil and resist the infringements brought to people by the monsters and monsters, which shows the psychological requirements of people to pray for peace.

Second, predict flood disasters. In folklore, it is said that the lion has the function of predicting disasters. It is said that if there are natural disasters such as flooding or land sinking, the eyes of the stone lion will turn red or bloody. This is a sign that the disaster is coming, and people can take emergency refuge. Here the stone lion has become a predictor of disasters.

The third is to show the rich and powerful. In ancient times, stone lions were used to guard the gates of palaces, government offices, and mansions, showing the power and dignity of the owner. For example, the two pairs of majestic stone lions guarding the gates of the imperial city on the Jinshui River in front of Tiananmen Square in Beijing embodied the supreme imperial power and mega power. All directions are sacred and inviolable.

The fourth is art decoration. Stone lions are also indispensable decorations in ancient buildings. Male lions often step on a "hydrangea" under their paws, while female lions often step on a lion cub under their feet. Folks also have paintings and patterns of lions rolling hydrangea, which represent the symbolic meaning of entertainment and human love, and reflect people's good wishes for peace and harmony.