Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Lion Guarding Forbidden City

In the heart of old Beijing are the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Home to many dynasties over many centuries, the Forbidden City was one of the world's most refined and sophisticated cities, housing the Chinese Emperor, thousands of his consorts, and untold numbers of support staff.

Fanciful animals guard several buildings in the city. My favorite was the mother lion who was pinning her tiny armored cub beneath her left paw - I think representing an analogy to the heir to the Dynastic throne.