? Door pier, also known as door base, door stand, door drum, and drum-holding stone. It is a stone component used at the bottom of the gate of traditional Chinese houses, especially courtyard houses, to support the door frame and door shaft. The door pier is an important part of the courtyard. The whole door pier is called the door corbel, and the outer part is called the door pier. The door corbel has a groove in the middle to support the door frame, and the inner part of the door has a sea nest for inserting the door compilation (the lower end of the door shaft). ), together with the couplets fixed on the middle sill, serve to fix the door shaft and facilitate the opening and closing of the door.
?Men pier is a stone used to support the door frame, threshold and door leaf of the main entrance or middle door in Chinese residential courtyards. It is next to the side of the door frame, like a pillow, so it is also called a door pillow stone. The inner part of the door pillow supports the door, and the outer part of the door is often decorated with birds and animals, also called a drum stone. Baogu stones also come in two shapes: square and round. The carvings on the door frames are very particular, with careful selection of materials, exquisite craftsmanship, and lifelike carvings. The most common pattern on both sides of the boulder drum is the corner lotus. For those who are particular about it, other patterns can be made, such as: unicorn lying on the pine, rhinoceros looking at the moon, butterfly entering the orchid mountain, and some also made into the pattern of five generations living together (five lions). The top of the round drum is usually in the shape of an animal, with a standing lion, a crouching lion or a lying lion (commonly known as a lion dog) on ??it. Square drums are also often decorated with carvings. It is one of the components of the courtyard building and is also an exquisite stone carving handicraft.
?The door pier is a distinctive component of the gate tower. Some traditional Chinese auspicious patterns are usually carved on the door pier, so it is a stone carving artwork for understanding traditional Chinese culture. Some people tried to carve a drum on the door pillow stone to announce visitors, and some people carved lotus flowers on the drum surface. Because it looks so beautiful, some people imitate it.
Since ancient times, the pursuit of facade decoration has naturally not ignored the pair of stone components at the entrance of the building. Baogu stone is the product of great carvings on the pillow stone opposite the door. The "pillow" is originally the main part. For the purpose of carving, the additional parts of the door pillow stone are emphasized. The "drum" part is very high, and the materials and labor used in the "pillow" part are much greater than that of the "pillow" part.
As the name suggests, Baogu stone is in the shape of a drum, which is full of decorative functions. It is usually decorated with sunflowers, tattooed heads, lions, etc. The lower part is carved as a Xumizuo, the middle is drum-shaped, decorated with patterns and reliefs, and the upper part is carved with a lion, which is a common style. According to the "Principles of Construction", those who carve the drum part into the shape of a lion are called lashi arsenic or a lion arsenic in terminology. Later, people tried every means to beautify the table. Some people made the table into the shape of a lotus leaf in the water. Not only was the shape very beautiful, but the "side-by-side and same-center" signified a happy couple, which was very auspicious, so it became the most popular style at that time. Secondly, the most popular door pier is to carve a lotus leaf shape on the auspicious clouds, and then put a drum on top.
? In most homes, the square door piers that are not high are carved in the shape of a Xumizuo, with lions carved on them. Some do not carve lions, but instead emboss patterns of flowers, plants and figures on the square door piers.
? A pair of drum-holding stones in front of the door stand as symbols of merit. In the era of feudal hierarchy, it was not allowed to set up a "drum" in front of the door of an unworthy person. If you want to decorate the front of the door and show wealth, you can also raise the door pillow as high as a drum stone, but only the decorative part next to the door should be square, which is different from a "drum". No matter how high it is, it is still called a "pier" .
? Most door piers are box-shaped and drum-shaped, but there are also lion-shaped, polygonal column-shaped, water bottle-shaped door piers, etc. The door pier usually consists of a Xumi base, a drum or a square box, and a beast's kiss or a lion (some say it is a Suanni). The shape of the gate piers also varies depending on the shape of the gate tower. The Xumizuo is the foundation of the entire door pier. It is usually engraved with the shape of a lotus and usually has a brocade pavilion on it. Baogu is an upright drum. There are usually various auspicious patterns engraved on the drum head and the side of the drum. Blessings are in front of your eyes (bat in the eye of money), peace all year round (tassels and quails in the bottle), happiness, prosperity and longevity (bats and deer). animals), unicorns lying on pine trees, rhinos looking at the moon, butterflies entering orchid mountains, and some are made into patterns such as five generations living together (five lions). A square box-shaped cube with different patterns engraved on all four sides. There are animal kisses or lions carved on the drum or box. The entire door pillow stone is carved from a single piece of stone.
Symbolic meaning
————The best wishes engraved on the door pier Sanyang Kaitai
? There are many exquisite patterns engraved on the surface of the door pier. With the help of figures, plants, animals, tools, fables, and geometric patterns, these gate piers express the beautiful wishes of the builders of the courtyards for longevity, wealth, exorcism, happy couples, and prosperous families.
? "Lion" and "世" are homophones. The pattern of nine lions carved is "nine generations living together", which expresses the wish for family reunion and harmony in the same house. ————The special meaning of lion-shaped and stone-tiger-shaped door piers: Lion-shaped and stone-tiger-shaped door piers were the most common ones in front of courtyards in the past. In the early years, powerful families were particular about placing a pair of large stone lions carved in white marble in front of their door. The male lion was usually on the left, with an embroidered ball under its right paw, which was called "lion rolling an embroidered ball"; the female lion was on the right, Under the left paw is a young lion, which is called "Young Master and Young Marshal", which means he will have prosperous descendants and will be a high official for generations.
?Most courtyard houses have a pair of small stone lions or small stone tiger gate piers placed on both sides of the door frame. Although they are not as tall and imposing as the pair of stone lions in front of the doors of wealthy families, they are vividly carved and very exquisite. , squatting or standing, lying down or looking up, like a pair of protective gods guarding the door of the house. In fact, the original intention of placing them is to ward off evil spirits and guard the house. The reason why people often choose stone lions and stone tigers to guard their homes is that they are regarded as strange beasts. They are ferocious and majestic and are not afraid of any beasts. They are regarded as the "king of beasts". With them guarding their homes and courtyards, wild beasts and ghosts are at home. Don't dare to enter the house. There are two explanations for placing stone lions in front of the door. One is that it is an auspicious thing, so placing a pair of lively and cute little stone lions in front of the door is also a symbol of happiness and liveliness; the other is that some door pillars There are two lions, one big and one small, in a lying posture. The word "lion" is homophonic for "shi", and the big lion and the little lion mean "living together from generation to generation". The little lion is lying on the chest of the big lion, which also means "father is kind and son is filial" and "harmony". It means "happy".
? Let’s talk about the drum-shaped door pier. According to old rituals, the drum holds the meaning of a drum to announce visitors. The coming and going of guests shows that the owner is popular and the family business is prosperous. The box-shaped door piers are mostly engraved with bat (luck), deer (lu), peach (longevity), magpie (happiness), sui (year), bottle (flat), quail (an), sheep (three Yang kaitai) and Money and other patterns are auspicious objects, expressing people's yearning for a happy life and their pursuit and desire for beautiful things. Peach is a symbol of longevity. Legend has it that the Queen Mother of the West survived after eating a fairy peach. The carving "White Ape Stealing Peach" on the gate pier has its origin as follows: Legend has it that the mother of the white ape in Yunmeng Mountain was ill and wanted to eat peaches. The white ape was very filial to his mother and secretly went to the fairy peach garden to pick peaches. Unexpectedly, he was caught by the immortal Sun Zhenren who was guarding the Taoyuan. White Ape begged Sun Zhenren to cure his mother's illness. Sun Zhenren was moved by his filial piety and let White Ape go. White Ape's mother recovered from her illness and asked White Ape to present a military book to Sun Zhenren. Since then, the "white ape stealing peaches" has become a symbol of wishing the elderly longevity. This legend is widely circulated among the people, and there are also lyrics with the same title in folk drum lyrics.
? "Fish" is homophonic with "yu" and "yu" which means wealth, symbolizing auspiciousness, wealth and beauty. The carved "lotus" and "fish" patterns symbolize "more than enough year after year". The carved carp leaps in the water between the two mountains, which represents the carp jumping over the dragon gate, symbolizing a rise in official career.
The word "lion" is homophonic to "heir" and "thing". Two lions in parallel means "everything goes well". A lion wearing a ribbon means "good things will continue". A female lion accompanying her cub means to wish "heirs" in advance. "Prosperity", a lion biting a hydrangea is a good sign that happy events will come to your door.
It is carved with a pattern of a girl throwing money and teasing a three-legged toad. Money represents wealth, and the toad is a symbol of fertility and fertility. The bangs playing with the golden toad mean wealth and many children. Liu Yong, a poet from the Song Dynasty, wrote a poem about "Greeting to watch the wild play of the toad, but not knowing that all nine gates are closed", so Liu Hai playing with the golden toad also symbolizes abundant financial resources and continuous drawing.
The bat symbolizes happiness, and the peach symbolizes longevity. Deer and Lu are homophonic, and carved bats, peaches, and deer symbolize "good fortune, wealth, and longevity."
Carve a bergamot, a peach, and a pomegranate. It symbolizes "many blessings" (the homophony of the word "Buddha"), many lives (the peach symbolizes longevity), and many men (the pomegranate has many seeds).
The combination of bergamot, peach and pomegranate has become a symbol of happiness and beauty in life.
Carve a pattern of five bats. The "Five Blessings" refer to longevity, wealth, happiness, virtue and health. A bat is engraved in the middle, and there are several ancient copper coins tied to the bat at the bottom. "Bat" and "Fu" are homophonic, and ancient copper coins have round square holes on the outside, commonly known as "money eyes". This picture uses the sounds and meanings of the two things to form a decorative pattern that symbolizes "blessings are before your eyes".
Streamers are widely used as carving patterns on door piers, which means "good things continue to happen".
Carving three sheep means that the three yangs have been born and will be prosperous, that is, the situation will change from bad to good, and everything will develop in a good direction.
Using Chinese homophony to express auspiciousness. Carve two persimmons, one "Ruyi". It symbolizes everything going well.
Carve a vase with ear-bearing plants (such as rice and barnyard grass), and carve a quail next to it. "Sui" and "Sui", "Ping" and "Ping", "Quail" and "An" are homophonic, which means "peace every year".
A monkey is carved on a maple branch, trying to pick the official seal hanging on the branch. Bees are flying around the tree. Taking advantage of the homophony of Chinese characters, it means "the seal of a feudal lord", which symbolizes promotion and a prosperous official career.
Based on the "Eight Immortals" in folklore: Han Zhongli's precious fan, Lu Dongbin's precious sword, Zhang Guo's boss Yougu, Cao Guojiu's clapper, Tieguai Li's gourd, Han Xiangzi's flute, He Fairy's lotus, Lan Caihe's flower basket. The patterns of the eight objects symbolize the birthday celebrations of the Eight Immortals.
The "eight treasures" are the umbrella, the victory banner, the vase, the goldfish, the lotus, the left-handed conch, the auspicious knot, and the golden wheel. Monks in Tibetan areas believe that the eight treasures are the incarnations of Sakyamuni Buddha, representing the eight organs of the Buddha. For example, the umbrella represents the head of the Buddha, the victory banner represents the body of the Buddha, the goldfish represents the eyes of the Buddha, and the left-handed conch represents the wonderful voice of the Buddha.
In folk language and customs, east, west, south, north, heaven and earth are collectively called "Liuhe", which generally refers to the world. Two animals, deer and crane, and flowers are carved on the gate pier, using the homophonic pronunciation of "deer", "liu", "crane" and "he", and together with the flowers that symbolize spring, it expresses the meaning of "six years and spring".
A lotus leaf and a lotus flower grow at the lotus root node, which represents the best wishes for the love of the couple.
Melons are small when they are born, but their vines will continue to grow and multiply. Therefore, the pattern of carved melons has become an auspicious pattern to wish prosperity and prosperity to future generations.