Some things I love about China
I know a lot of people love doorways and doors; I am not sure what the attraction is but I really love them too. Throughout my travels around China I saw many bright and interesting doors and doorways and not only the that, I was also very interested in the sculptures placed at the doors’ entrance. So I might post some photos and a little bit of information about the sculptures. So here we go…
Many doors around China have drum-shaped stone sculptures which are usually placed in pairs at the entrance of the house. There are two shapes – round and a door-guarding lion. Let’s see the drums first…
The drum surface is usually carved with embossed patterns of flowers, grass, animals and deity animals. However lions and lotus as the most commonly used patterns.
Though as we know, the priority of a door is to keep the house safe, in ancient China, to decorate it was an important way to show the house owners social status.
So now onto the lions…Chinese guardian lions can be found at the doorways and always in pairs, a male on the left and a female on the right. The male is always with its right claw over an embroidered ball to represent power. And under the left claw of the female can be found a baby lion, which is said to represent the family will have many offspring.
Statues of guardian lions have traditionally stood in front of Chinese Imperial palaces and many other places including temples and the homes of government officials and the wealthy and were believed to have powerful mythic protective benefits. But I must say the two I brought home from Beijing really have no mythical power; they just look nice outside my home in Australia – well I hope they do anyway…
So back to some nice doors I found in China; colourful and just interesting…hope you find that too…
Your lions look very welcoming by your front door along glide your terracotta flower pots.
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I really love the architecture of China, roofing, pottery, writings (characters/pictograms). Amazing how every culture has an artistic spatial reference. Thanks Sue’sFabulousTravels! 🙂
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Wow! you have a lot of door’s photo. Me too, I have fascination about it and windows haha!
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in CHina they certainly got some nice looking doors. I also like these kind of round entrances which always reminds me on hobbit holes 🙂
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Yes I agree. Thank you very much!!
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Yes windows are cool too Vinneve. Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Wow, what a nice set of doors and doorways. Thank You.
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Nice series. A fair smattering of red doors, too.
A nice set of lions you brought home as well. Not fierce looking at all. 🙂
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Doorways can be so intriguing 😉 Lovely photos Sue!! Your lions look very happy at their new home 🙂
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Doors make me want to know what lies behind them
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That certainly was very interesting, those doors have personality!
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Your door looks very Chinese with the lions and the papercuts! 😉
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Thank YOU very much for stopping by.
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Ha ha. No not fierce at all. Thank you as always.
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Thank you Caren. They are very happy and too heavy for someone to steal.
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I agree.
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And I winder what is behind them. Thanks Julia.
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Yes it’s my little bit of China here in Canberra.
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A beautiful mix of new and old door series!
Love the pair of stone lions you got, Sue. 🙂
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Thank you Amy. They are SO heavy.
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I’ve always been curious about doors and windows. Says so much about the person living inside. 🙂 Loved your nostalgic walk through China.
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Thanks for the lovely pics and history lessons.I share your liking for doors.
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Thank you so much. I agree. When I see fabulous doors I just want to know what is behind them.
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Thank you. Maybe we would like to know what is behind them too.
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Couldn’t agree more.
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I thought I was odd for snapping door pics! Hah. I like the first green one. Don’t see ’em like that everywhere.
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Thank you Jordan. You are certainly not off. I think there are a few of us that like snapping doors. Ha ha.
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I have never been to China and I definitely have to! I enjoyed your pictures Sue. Thank you for sharing😊
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Most welcome. Thank you so much for looking at my photos.
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Thanks to you for sharing them 🙂
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