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The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre
Item 21 of 26
This is a contributing entry for The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre and only appears as part of that tour.Learn More.

石獅子是在中國文化中經常使用的一種裝飾物。通常擺放在建築物大門口兩側。很多受中國文化影響地區的宮殿、寺廟、園林、政府機關大樓等地都可見到。因為石獅作用為鎮守化煞視為瑞獸,意在保護大廈。

Stone lions are a kind of ornament often used in Chinese culture. It is usually placed on both sides of the gate of the building. It can be seen in palaces, temples, gardens, government office buildings and other places influenced by Chinese culture. Because the role of stone lions is to guard and deter evil spirits, they are regarded as auspicious beasts and are intended to protect the building.


White, Plant, Sculpture, Statue
  • 放在建築物大門口兩側的一對獅子雕像,其材質不單限於石材,亦有以水泥加鋼筋或玻璃纖維製成的獅子,甚或用金屬所製作,但大多都會統稱為「石獅子」。
  • 中式傳統石獅子造型不同於今日所見之獅子,原因是中國自古不產獅子,雕塑者當初無從描摹,所以從書本和到外國到訪者口中了解,並參考了北京狗或其他動物的造型,甚至添加了個人想像使其誇張化而成。故此你可以留意到眼前的石獅子頭上有捲曲的毛髮,事實上和真實的獅子並不一樣呢!
  • 讓我出題讓大家猜猜看, 眼前的石獅子到底那隻是男, 那隻是女呢?答案是...右邊抓著一顆圓珠的那隻是男,左邊扶著獅子寶寶的那隻就是女。寓意男的負責保護住所, 守著大門口; 而女的就負責照顧家裡的事務, 打點一切, 所以顧名思義男主外女主內, 各有本份。

  • The pair of lion statues placed on both sides of the gate of the building is not limited to stone materials. There are also lions made of cement plus steel or fiberglass, or even made of metal, but most of them are collectively referred to as "stone lions". 
  • The shape of traditional Chinese stone lions is different from the lions you see today. There have been no lions in China since ancient times, and the sculptors had no way to describe them. Therefore they learned from books and foreign visitors and referred to the shapes of dogs or other animals. They even added their own imaginations. Therefore, you can notice the curly hair on the head of the stone lion in front of you, which is actually different from the real lion.
  • Let me ask a question for everyone to guess - is the stone lion in front of you a man or a woman? The answer is... the one holding a ball on the right is a man, and the one holding a baby lion on the left is a woman. It means that the man is responsible for protecting the residence and guarding the gate; while the woman is responsible for taking care of the affairs of the house and taking care of everything. So as the name suggests, the man is in charge of the outside and the woman is in charge of the house, each with their own duties.