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Lions at the Gate of Supreme Harmony in Forbidden City (Beijing - China)
N 39° 54.822 E 116° 23.459
50S E 447948 N 4418356
The Gate of Supreme Harmony in Forbidden City is guarded by two massive bronze lions, lionesse with a cub stays on the left side and lion on the right side of the Gate stairs, respectively...
Waymark Code: WM6FRN
Location: China
Date Posted: 05/27/2009
Views: 49
Qing, the last Chinese Dynasty, regarded the dragon as the symbol of the emperor and dragons show up in many parts of the Forbidden City. Ming, the dynasty which preceded Qing, was closer to Buddhist traditions; these had brought to China the Indian practice of placing statues of lions outside temples and royal palaces. Lions were unknown in China and it is said that dogs were used as models. The Gate of Supreme Harmony is guarded by a pair of bronze lions of the Ming era.
Chinese guardian lions are always created in pairs, with the male playing with a ball and the female with a cub. The lionesse, who holds a cub in her paw symbolizes longevity. Opposite her stands the male lion, who holds the world in his paw symbolizes power. Here, I photographed in detail the male lion, staying on the right side of the stairs...
Physical Address: Gate of Supreme Harmony - Forbidden City Dongcheng District Beijing, China 100027
![](/images/spacer.gif) Web Site: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
Take a photo of the lion.