THE LION-A SYMBOL OF POWER

In China, the lion is regarded as the king of the forests and of the other animals. It has thus long been used as a symbol 
of power and grandeur. It is even believed to offer protection from evil spirits. That’s why imposing statues of lions were 
placed at the gates of imperial palaces, official residences, temples and tombs. In cense burners and  imperial  seals were 
also  often decorated with carved lions.

Indeed, like images of the dragon, carved lions can be seen almost everywhere in China. The most famous carved lions 
are the pair that guard Tian’anmen, the main entrance of the Forbidden City. Visitors to Beijing often like to have their 
pictures taken with these famous landmarks.

The styles of the lions changed over time. The 1,400-year-old tombs of the Liang Dynasty outside Nanjing are famous for
 their winged lions. Two lions three meters high strut proudly forward, head high and chest out. 
   In the Tang Dynasty, which ruled between 618 and 907, seated lions were fre-quently used They rest on heavy legs so
solid that they seem rooted to the earth Their style mirrors the strength of the Tang Dynasty itself and they are considered 
sculptural masterpieces.

Lions of the Song Dynasty,from the 10th to 13th centuries, had curling manes,More true to life than their predecessors, 
their features were copied by the stone masons of the Ming Dynasty which followed.

   In the Qing Dynasty, carved lions were placed in temples and gardens In this period Chinese sculpture was far more lively. 
Some lions  hold a ball in  their forepaws,others roar.Are you frightened? Well,in folk dances,this cruel and powerful beast 
has been tamed into a playful, even mischievous character. Wearing bells, he runs after a colorful ball, which bounces to the
rhythm of the drums. He cavorts about, chases a ball up and down a swaying seesaw, scratches himself, lies down and pants
or even drops off for 40 winks of sleep.