Art is amazing, and it comes in all forms.
There are paintings, photographs, crafts and even wood carvings. A huge lion carving recently appeared in a central Chinese city square. People are amazed by it, and as impressive as it is to look at, the way it was made is even more interesting.
This giant sculpture was made from one gigantic tree, and it took three years and more than 20 people working on it.
The sculpture measures 47.5 feet long, 16.5 feet high, and 13 feet wide. The entire project was initiated by a popular Chinese architect named Dengding Rui Yao.
The team began working on the sculpture in Myanmar, and they kept it there until they finished carving it. Once it was complete, they moved it over 3,000 miles away to Wuhan’s Fortune Times Square, where it is currently displayed.
Lions have a lot of symbolism in Chinese culture.
When Buddhism spread to China, the lion came with it, and its symbolism is still important today. It is considered a protector. Throughout the ages, many different civilizations have used the lion in their cities to keep the people safe.
According to Chinese Horoscope:
“Chinese guardian lions, also known as Fu lions, Stone Lions or Lions of Buddha (sometimes also called Foo Dogs) are mythical beasts which are believed to have powerful protective powers. These sacred animals have traditionally stood in front of Chinese temples, imperial palaces, emperor’s tombs, homes of government officials and government offices.
“Fu Lions or Statues of Chi are often displayed in pairs, this pair, a male, and a female can be seen in the entrances of restaurants, supermarkets, hotels and traditional buildings. Traditionally, the lions are made of granite, marble or cast from iron or bronze. The placement of these lions outside new temples, homes, and businesses became less common after the period of dynasties ended in 1911. But you still can see these Chinese stone lions near the entrance of many of the major landmarks in China such as the palace of the Qing and Ming Dynasties and the Forbidden City.”
The Chinese culture is very big on symbolism and art.
They like for their cities to look nice and are always looking for ways to draw attention and more tourists into these areas. When people see this magnificent sculpture, they are impressed and intrigued. Most people circle around it to see it from all angles. When they learn that is was carved from one gigantic tree, they just can’t believe it.
Having the lion in the city gives people some peace of mind in knowing that they are protected.
They see it as warding off evil spirits and bringing good luck to everyone who lives there. What evil spirits would want to mess with a lion this big?
The details of the lion are amazing. Each piece of hair in its mane is carved beautifully, the face is shaped to make the lion appear as if it is roaring, and the body is strong and muscular. The artists were careful to make it clear that the lion was carved from wood, and they left it a dark, wooden color. The teeth are all perfectly shaped, and there are four huge fangs that draw your attention immediately. It’s as terrifying as it is beautiful and clearly an amazing work of art.
People just can’t get enough of it, and everyone who comes near it wants their photo with it.
It’s similar to the bull on Wall Street in New York City. Crowds form around both animals at all hours of the day and night, and everyone wants to touch it and be near it.
It’s easy to get caught up in a fast-paced life.
It’s nice that the artists took the time to make something that would cause so many people to slow down and spend a few minutes enjoying the art and symbolism that their culture was built on.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
