Stone Lion
The lion is a symbol of good luck in ancient China. After Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220), lions were presented as tribute to Central China. Due to their majestic appearance, they were believed to have the power to ward off evil, and paintings of lions and stone lion sculptures gradually emerged. The ancient Chinese believed that stone lions could ward off evil spirits and protect the household, so they were often placed on both sides of the entrance: the male lion on the left side was usually carved with its right front paw playing with a ball, symbolizing dignity and nobility; the female lion on the right side was carved with its left front paw touching a cub, symbolizing the continuity of the family line.
Throughout history, stone lions were commonly placed in palaces or imperial tombs. Their artistic form went through a continuous development process and gradually became fixed during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). In the Song Dynasty (960- 1279), stone lions enjoyed even greater popularity, appearing in grottoes, temples, shrines, residences, and gardens. In the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), they were further in- corporated into the daily lives of ordinary people and used as decorative elements in folk architecture. Symbolizing guard- ians of homes, stone lions embody the desire for a peaceful and prosperous life.
石狮
狮子是中国古代的祥瑞之兽。汉代张骞通西域之后，狮子作为贡品被送到中国内地。由于其形象威武，被认为有辟邪的功能，与狮子相关的绘画和雕塑逐渐出现。石狮就是以石头为材料雕刻狮子形象的建筑装饰物。中国古人认为，石狮可以辟邪镇宅，常将其放置于大门两侧：左侧的雄狮一般都雕成右前爪玩弄绣球，象征威严尊贵；右侧雌狮则雕成左前爪抚摸幼狮，象征子孙绵延。
历史上，石狮往往用于宫殿或帝王陵墓，其艺术形象经历了一个不断发展的过程，在唐代逐渐定型。到了宋代，石狮更广泛地出现在石窟、寺观、祠庙、住宅和园林中。明清时期，石狮进一步走入普通百姓生活，用于民间建筑装饰。石狮被赋予家宅守护者的文化寓意，寄予了中国人期盼平安美好生活的良愿。
