What does the lion in front of the house mean?

The meaning of the lion in front of the house:

There are four popular sayings: First, avoid evil spirits and avoid Naji.

The ancients thought that stone lions could ward off evil spirits, so they were first used to guard tombs. This kind of spirit beast in people's minds is also called "avoiding evil spirits". In people's folk life, stone lions are not only used to guard the gate, but also set up stone lions at rural intersections, which have the same function as "Shi Gandang", and are used to guard houses, ward off evil spirits, and keep villages safe. Therefore, using stone lions to close the gate can ward off evil spirits and resist the harm caused by monsters, which shows people's psychological requirements for praying for peace.

Second, forecast the flood.

In folklore, it is said that lions have the function of predicting disasters. It is said that in the event of natural disasters such as floods or land subsidence, the eyes of stone lions will turn red or bleed, which is a sign of impending disaster and people can take refuge in an emergency. Here, the stone lion became a prophet of disaster.

Third, highlight the dignitaries.

In ancient times, stone lions were often used as gatekeepers of palaces, palaces, offices and luxury houses, which showed the power and dignity of their owners. For example, two pairs of majestic stone lions on the Jinshui River in front of Tiananmen Square in Beijing guard the gate of the imperial city, which embodies the supreme imperial power and inviolability in all directions.

Fourth, art decoration.

Stone lions are also indispensable decorations in ancient buildings. For example, at the eastern end of Lugou Bridge in Beijing, two large stone lions are used to guard the railings. Not only are stone lions engraved on the China table stigma at both ends of the bridge, but some stone lions also hide a few little lions. These lions are men and women, big and small, with vivid expressions and wonderful workmanship. The smallest lion is only a few centimeters, which is not only numerous, but also unpredictable. Therefore, there is a saying that there are countless lions in Lugouqiao.

There are rules for the placement of the stone lions. Generally speaking, they are male and female in pairs, and they are generally left male and right female, which conforms to China's traditional philosophy of Yin and Yang. The lion placed on the left side of the door is generally carved into the right front paw to play with hydrangea or there is a hydrangea between the two front paws; The lioness on the right side of the door is carved into the left front paw to touch the cub or the cub is located between the two front paws.

The stone lions on both sides of the gate are placed according to the direction in which people come out of the gate. When people come out of the gate, the lion should be on the left and the lioness on the right. When entering from the outside, it's just the opposite. For example, there are a pair of stone lions outside the door of some buildings. Outside the door (that is, the direction of entering the door), the male lion is on the right and the female lion is on the left; Inside the door (that is, the direction of going out) is the lion on the left and the lioness on the right. In other words, when you leave the gate, there must be a lion on the left and a lioness on the right.