Introduction and types of stone lions
Lions have always been a symbol of protecting people's good fortune and peace. Folks attach great importance to a consecration ceremony. People believe that if a stone lion is not consecrated, it is just a handicraft, but after it is consecrated, it will be a treasure for protecting the country. Therefore, when placing the stone lion, you must choose an auspicious day and auspicious time, and ask a religious person or Feng Shui master to consecrate it, so that you can have a bright future and everything goes well. The placement of stone lions also follows rules and is symmetrical, and their positions are consistent with the Chinese custom of men on the left and women on the right. That is, when a person walks out of the door, the male lion is placed on the left side of the person, while the female lion is placed on the right side of the person. If there are a pair of stone lions inside and outside the gate of some buildings, they will be placed in the same direction, which is in line with people's aesthetics.
Types of stone lions:
Beijing lion: As the name implies, Beijing lion is the stone lion of Beijing, referring to the stone lion of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The shape of the Beijing lion is generally dignified and majestic, and it is a symbol of imperial power. The Beijing lion is an auspicious beast that guards the royal gates and ensures the peace of the palace, because the lion is the king of beasts. It is strong, powerful, and powerful. Rulers believe that lions can not only ward off evil spirits, but also bring auspiciousness. The Beijing lion is a male and female pair. The lion's head is decorated with a mane, and a bell hangs from its neck. It is muscular and majestic.
Coin-presenting lion: It is named because stone lions are often decorated with a string of ancient coins before the shape. It is a shape among southern stone lions. The money-giving lion symbolizes attracting wealth and treasure, and its shape is cute, clever, and full of spirituality. It is one of the most common stone lion shapes among the people and is often placed in front of temples or ancestral halls. Money-giving lions are usually a male and female pair, and the male lion is often decorated with a large string of copper coins, which means attracting wealth. The female lion is playing with the lion cub, which means that the population is prosperous.
Hong Kong dollar lion: It is an imported thing. With the introduction of Western banks, it first appeared in front of Hong Kong banks, so it got its name. This type of stone lion is more realistic, and its shape is similar to that of a real lion. They are usually a male and female pair, either standing or standing on both sides of the bank gate. Generally, the male lion's mouth is open, which means attracting wealth. The female lion has her mouth closed, which means keeping money.
Chaoshan Lion: It looks like a lion but not like a lion. It is an artistic image that has been exaggerated and beautified. According to the famous wood carving artist Zhang Yixuan's art formula: "Twelve Lions in the Hall" means the characteristics of Chaoshan lion heads, focusing on exaggerating the lion heads and highlighting key points. The Chaoshan lion has a high head. The nose is large, the mouth is wide, the eyes are round, the head and feet are covered with curly hair, and the body is covered with mane. This is not only in line with the ecology of the lion, but also in harmony with the overall exaggeration. The head is big and the body is small, but because the sitting posture is very decent, people feel that its body is strong, powerful, neat and graceful, solemn, majestic, lively and interesting.