Lions

Monday, May 5, 2008
Beijing

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.