Since ancient times, lions have not been bred in China, but lions are everywhere in the north and south of the country: stone lions guarding gatehouses and bridges, lion images in paintings and utensils, and the ...... of fascinating lion dance performancesIn traditional culture, the figure of the lion occupies a pivotal position. So, why did the ancient Chinese love this exotic animal so much?
A first glimpse into the lion footprints in China.
Tracing the history of China, the story of the introduction of the first lion can be traced back to the time when Zhang Qian passed through the Western Regions. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the original intention of sending Zhang Qian to the Western Regions was to unite the Dayue clan to flank the Xiongnu, because the Dayue clan and the Xiongnu had a feud. When the Otsutsuki clan refused to cooperate, the king decided to give the Han Dynasty a special gift, a lion that had not been produced in China. After a year's trek, the golden-haired lion finally arrived at Luoyang City in the Eastern Han Dynasty, making it the earliest lion record in Chinese history.
The majestic appearance of the lion has won the love of the Chinese and opened the prelude to the integration of lion culture and traditional Chinese culture. The stone lion of the Eastern Han Dynasty in Wuliang Temple in Jiaxiang, Shandong Province is one of the earliest existing stone lions in China, and the image of the stone lion at that time mostly retains the characteristics of the lion itself.
Indigenous development of lion legends.
Subsequently, lions paid tribute one after another in the Western Regions. When he was Emperor Xiaozhuang of the Northern Wei Dynasty, he had a wonderful idea: is it the lion that is powerful or the tiger is more powerful?So, he put two tigers, a leopard and a lion together. The result was surprising, the tiger and the leopard bowed their heads in a sign of weakness, while the lion proudly held its head high, showing its kingly demeanor. Emperor Xiaozhuang was deeply shocked by the domineering spirit of the lion.
Emperor Xiaozhuang's curiosity was not satisfied, and he put a large black bear and a lion together. However, the big black bear fled in fright when he smelled the lion, which made Emperor Xiaozhuang more convinced of the lion's might. Since then, the prestige of the lion has spread throughout Luoyang City and throughout the country. During this period, the flourishing of Buddhism also contributed to the development of lion art.
The triple connotation of the lion in Chinese culture.
Companion Buddha**: Legend has it that when Shakyamuni was born, he pointed to the sky and the ground with one hand, the lion roared, and the beasts were subdued. Therefore, the image of the lion in Buddhist art is ubiquitous, representing the supremacy of mana. In Buddhist grottoes, stone carvings, and murals, the figure of lions is not uncommon.
Suppressing demons and warding off evil spirits: As the king of all beasts, the lion has the role of warding off evil spirits in Buddhist art, and is gradually integrated into the folk stone lion art. The stone lion statues in front of palaces, yamen, monasteries, mausoleums, and nobles are all regarded as having the power to ward off evil spirits, and can protect the ruler, protect the owner of the tomb, and protect the property.
Auspicious Ruyi: The Tang Dynasty was the heyday of the development of lion art in China, and the image of the lion was innovated locally. The gold and silver vessels of the Tang Dynasty are engraved with lion patterns, implying wealth and auspiciousness. The lion and the young lion have become a traditional auspicious pattern, implying the prosperity of the offspring. In addition, as a representative Xi activity, lion dance symbolizes people's love and cherishing of life.
Conclusion: The flourishing of lion art.
From the realistic images of the Eastern Han Dynasty to the different artistic styles of various forms, lion art gradually developed into a secularized and entertaining folk art, and finally became one of the representatives of traditional Chinese auspicious culture. This reflects the strong vitality of Chinese civilization to embrace all rivers, be inclusive, and continue to innovate and develop.
Through the exotic animal of the lion, the Chinese creatively give it various meanings, making it a carrier and symbol of culture. This also reflects the tolerance and integration of foreign cultures by the Chinese people in the long course of history, which has added a lot of color to Chinese civilization.
This essay profoundly paints a profound picture of China's love for lions and their unique place in the culture. First of all, through the historical timeline, the article vividly tells the story of the first introduction of lions to China, especially through Zhang Qian's experience of traveling to the Western Regions, highlighting how this exotic animal entered China and won people's love. This attracted my interest at the very beginning of the article and kept me interested in the whole story.
Secondly, the article skillfully combines history and legend to dig deep into the development of lions in China. Through the experiments of Emperor Xiaozhuang of the Northern Wei Dynasty, lions are placed together with tigers, leopards and even big black bears, which not only shows the majesty and domineering of lions, but also presents readers with the curiosity of the monarch at that time about this exotic creature and a deep understanding of the power of lions. These narratives add to the interest and readability of the article.
One of the highlights of the article is a detailed analysis of the threefold connotation of lions in Chinese culture. From a Buddhist perspective, the lion is the companion of Shakyamuni at birth, representing the supremacy of mana. In the folk stone lion art, the lion has the power to ward off evil spirits, bless the ruler and protect the property. In the Tang Dynasty, the image of the lion was transformed by local artists to become a representative of auspicious patterns, implying wealth and auspiciousness. This analysis has given me a deeper understanding of the multi-dimensional meaning of lions in Chinese culture.
Finally, the article summarizes and points out the development process of lion art, from realistic images to different artistic styles, and then to the development of secularization and entertainment, and the lion has finally become one of the representatives of traditional Chinese auspicious culture. This is very well expressed and gives me a clear idea of the thread and theme of the whole article.
Overall, this review fully demonstrates the unique charm of lions in Chinese culture and their deep historical origins through a detailed interpretation of the article. The author's use of rich historical stories and cultural connotations enables readers to deeply experience the rich connotation of lions in Chinese culture, which gives me a more comprehensive understanding of this cultural phenomenon.
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