Monday, May 5, 2008Beijing
Everywhere you go, you see pairs of lion sculptures guarding gates and entries to palaces and halls. One always has a ball under its paw, symbolizing Imperial Power; the other is a female lioness with a cub in its paw, symbolizing the fertility of the royal family.
Bronze lion pairs signify the homes of officials; the number of bumps on the lion’s head identify how highly ranked the official is, the total falling somewhere between a maximum of thirteen and a minimum of eight. Anyone “ranked” less than seven weren’t allowed lions.
The most beautiful lion pair is at the entrance to the Gate of Heavenly Purity—the Golden Lions—shown here.
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