Why are there always two stone lions in front of the ancient buliding?

The ancient Chinese people often placed two stone lions in front of the gate of the house to protect the house. This custom has continued to this day.

So how did this custom come about?

This custom of using stone lions as gatekeepers was formed after the Tang and Song Dynasties. During the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an City was the most glorious capital in the world at that time, and the government planned "fang" - equivalent to the current block - as a residential area. The workshop has walls and gates, which are convenient for fire prevention and theft. The square gate is generally made into an archway, and the name of the square is written on it.

The square column is sandwiched by a pair of large stones to prevent wind and earthquake, and fix the square door. In order to avoid the bluntness and monotony of the stones, skilled craftsmen carved lions, unicorns and other auspicious beasts on them, which are both beautiful and practical, as well as auspicious. This should be the prototype of using stone lions to guard the gate. After the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Fang withdrew from the stage of history. In order to reflect the momentum of their own families, some large families have simplified the style of the square gate and set up a gate tower. The pillar stone next to the square gate has evolved into a stone lion guarding the gate. In the Yuan Dynasty, the stone lions who guarded the gates went from wealthy families to the people, and they became accustomed to each other.

The stone lion usually takes the Sumeru seat as the base, and there is a brocade shop on the base (spread on the Sumeru seat, and the four corners hang on the four sides of the Sumeru seat). The shapes of the lions are different, and they have been beautified in China. The basic shape is full of curly hair, majestic and majestic.