The image of Chinese lions (shih tzu, or in obsolete transcription, shih tzu) is a fairly common artistic motif in the Middle Kingdom, despite the fact that these animals have never lived there. Even in ancient times, the Chinese appreciated the qualities of the king of animals. The lion dance and the Chinese guardian lions are well known throughout the world.
Emperors received animals as a tribute from the vassal kingdoms, but the ideas about them continued to have a fantastic connotation, therefore, in the Chinese tradition, lions are more like dogs than huge cats. For many years, the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom have revered the king of animals. For example, in the process of breeding Pekingese dogs, they tried to make them look like lions, and their traditional name, Shih Tzu, was completely translated as a “lion dog”.
Appearance story
It is believed that during the reign of Emperor Zhang in Eastern Han in 87 AD, the King of Parthia presented him with a lion. The following year, another animal was brought as a present from Central Asia, from a country known as Yueji. The earliest stone lions were made at the beginning of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220 AD), during the period of Buddhism in ancient China. According to Buddhist beliefs, a lion is considered a symbol of nobility and dignity, an animal that can protect the truth and protect it from evil.
For these reasons, it was popular to decorate bridges with stone Shih Tzu. The most famous of them is Lugou, its other name is the Marco Polo Bridge. It was built between 1189 and 1192 in Beijing. On the pillars of the bridge there are 485 lions.
Symbolism of the image
Images of a lion are usually associated with Buddhism. On both sides of the entrance to the temple, it was customary to put statues. On the right side there was a male lion, pressing a ball with its paw, on the left - a female, under whose paw most often lay a lion cub.
The symbolism of the sign of the Chinese lion is associated with the fact that it is a special animal for the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire and has special significance for culture. He is recognized as a king in the animal kingdom, so the image is associated with power and prestige. The ball under his paw symbolizes the unity of the empire, and the cube or cub under the paw of a lioness is a prosperous offspring.
Stone lions were also used to indicate the status of officials. The number of flourishes on the lion's mane denoted the degree of seniority: the shih tzu of a high-ranking official had up to 13 flourishes. With decreasing rank, the number of whorls decreased by one. Officials below the seventh grade were not allowed to have stone lions in front of the houses. The image of the king of beasts was used by some officials as an emblem.
Lions in the Middle Kingdom are a symbol of strength, grandeur and courage, able to protect against evil spirits. They were considered the protectors and patrons of the imperial family. The female protects the structure inside, and the male outside. This view is connected with the Chinese legend, which says that the lion was the ninth son of the dragon, the best hired guard, so he was usually seen in front of the royal palaces and residences.
Stone lions in different dynasties
There are various styles of images of Chinese guardian lions. They depend on the time period, the ruling imperial dynasty and the region of China. These styles are distinguished by artistic details and decorations.
During the reign of various dynasties, stone lions had their own distinctive features. So, during the Han and Tang dynasties, they were strong and fearless; during the Yuan Dynasty , elegant but powerful. Under Ming and Qing, they seemed more meek and gentle. In addition, stone lions have obvious regional differences. In general, images of lions from northern China are simpler, and statues from the south are brighter and more vibrant than many similar sculptures.
Manufacture
Lions have traditionally been made of decorative stone, such as marble, granite, bronze or iron. Due to the high cost of these materials and the labor required for production, wealthy and aristocratic families have traditionally bought them.
Location of statues
As a rule, a couple of lions are always placed at the entrance to the building: a female on the right side, and a male on the left, according to the Chinese traditional philosophy of Yin and Yang.
However, there are exceptions: for example, a shih tzu in front of the Guan Yu Temple on the Jiayu pass or stone lions facing confucian temples in Qufu and Shandong. You can see the famous sculptural compositions in front of Tiananmen Square, the Altar of Land in Zhongshan Park and Peking University, as well as in front of the Lugou Bridge in Beijing.
Place in Chinese Culture
The stone lion is a traditional decoration in Chinese architecture. His image can be found near the imperial palaces, temples, Buddhist pagodas, bridges, mausoleums, mansions, gardens, etc. In China, the king of animals is a symbol of security and good luck. In the Middle Kingdom there is a rite called "kaiguan" (Buddhist rite of consecration). If it was not carried out over the sculpture of a guardian lion, it remained only a work of art, not a talisman.
According to legends, the lion was imported into China during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). For Chinese culture, he is more a mythical figure than a real animal. Like qilin (mythical animal, chimera), a lion is considered a divine beast. After his appearance, he gradually became a talisman, since the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom believe that he can drive away evil spirits. The Chinese guardian lions were also called the "Fu Dog", or "Buddha's Heavenly Dog."
The male symbolizes the energy of Yang and the corresponding qualities. The female is a manifestation of female yin energy.