IT has been a tradition in China to have a pair of stone lion statues erected beside the main entrance of a major building, including bank headquarters. The tradition roughly dates back to the Tang Dynasty when two large stones were used to strengthen the arch at the entrances of each residential block. The stones were later sculpted for decoration into different animals, such as lions and kylins, which are regarded as auspicious. The practice was passed down, and in the Yuan Dynasty prominent households would have stone lion statues by the entrances of their residences. Nowadays, most banks in China have stone lion statues at their entrances, one with an open mouth and the other with a closed mouth. It is said that bankers’ hope to attract more fortune is signaled by the roaring lion statue. Meanwhile, their hope to keep the fortune is represented by the lion with the closed mouth.

    (SD News)