The Image Characteristics of Lions in Forbidden City

In the gardens of the Forbidden City, there are many unique furnishings, and the beautifully made bronze lion is a very striking one. According to ancient records, the lion is also called "Sister-in-law". It is recorded in The History of the Later Han Dynasty and The History of the East View that when Emperor Gaozu was in Zhang and Shun Di, countries such as Xieqi and Shule sent messengers to offer lions. Yu Shinan, a famous calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty, wrote a poem "Ode to the Lion", which described the agility and ferocity of the lion by "relaxing eyes and thundering". In ancient China, the image of the lion has long been used in tombs, cave temple art and various daily necessities, such as stone lions in Han and Tang Dynasties, tapestries with lion patterns found on the Silk Road, Manjusri Bodhisattva riding lions in cave temples, lion patterns on the tang dynasty bronze mirror, lion buttons on seals of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, lion pillows and toys in porcelain, and so on. The widespread popularity of lion dance in China also shows that the lion has long been a favorite animal image.

The display of bronze lions in the Forbidden City in Ming and Qing Dynasties not only shows the luxury of the palace, but also shows the "dignity" and "majesty" of the feudal monarch. These bronze lions are scattered in six places, and each place is a pair. In the middle of the road, there are two front gates of the former dynasty-Taihe Gate, the front gate of the Forbidden City and the front gate of Gan Qing. In the West Sixth Palace, there is a pair in front of Yangxin, where the emperor works and lives, and a pair in front of Changchun Palace, where the queen lives. On Waidong Road, there are a pair of Ningshou Gate (now the main entrance of the painting gallery) and Yangxin Gate (now the main entrance of the Treasure Hall), and the main entrance of Emperor Qianlong's official residence (1796- 1799).

These bronze lions were all cast in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The gilded bronze lions of Yangxinmen, Ningshoumen and Yangxinmen were made in the Qing Dynasty, and the words "Made in the Qing Dynasty" were engraved on the chest or bronze pedestal of the bronze lion. In the "Work Archives" of the Palace Building Department in Qing Dynasty, it was recorded in detail that in the thirty-sixth year of Qianlong (1772), the emperor ordered the Palace Building Department to destroy two old astronomical instruments, cast a pair of bronze lions, and Qianlong for forty years (1776), and placed a pair of bronze lions weighing 7664 Jin before Ningshou. The gilded bronze lion in front of Gan Qing stands upright and has a unique shape, but it has no date. According to the Records of Proceedings and Ming History in the late Ming Dynasty, "the golden lion is left and right outside Gan Qing".

So it can be considered as the Ming Dynasty. The six pairs of bronze lion ethereum and the one in front of the door are the largest, exquisite in shape and more ornate in decoration. They are well coordinated in front of the magnificent Taihe gate, but it is not gold-plated and has no style. According to its shape and casting, it may be from the Ming Dynasty.

These six pairs of bronze lions are vivid, lifelike and lifelike. All of them are squatting on bronze seats or stone seats, and five of them are gilded. Gold plating is an alloy of gold and mercury plated on the surface of bronze ware. After baking, mercury evaporates and gold adheres to the surface of the vessel. The gilded bronze lion is more gorgeous and dazzling in the sunlight. Bronze lions all bared their teeth, as if roaring and roaring; There are temminicks on the neck, and bells and tassels are tied under the neck; The limbs and claws are strong and powerful, showing a fierce character. Each pair of lions, on the right is a lioness, stretching out her left leg to tease the little lion. The little lion lies on his back with a big lion's paw in his mouth, which fully reflects the warmth of maternal love; On the left is a lion, stretching out his right leg and playing with hydrangea, which reminds people of the legendary lion dance in China and fully embodies the wisdom and creativity of the ancient working people.