Title: Species, Images and Legend of Inner Eurasia in the Middle of Ancient China
Lecturer: SHANG Yongqi (Academic Fellow, Jilin Academy of Social Sciences)
Chairperson: ZHANG Yihe (Professor, Department of History, East China Normal University)
Date: 2:30 pm, April 6th, 2016 (Wednesday)
Venue: Room 5303, Building of School of Humanities, Minhang Campus, ECNU
Sponsor: Si-mian Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities, ECNU
Abstract of the Lecture:
The main clue of the lecture is “the East Road of the lion image,” which connects the ferocious lion and quiet lotus, the wisdom and compassion, speak compatible part of generous cultural exchanges in Eurasia v. China is not the Asian lion’s habitat, but from the Eastern Han Dynasty era, the lion was contribute to China palace as a tribute by West Asia and Central Asia countries, since then, the lion was contribute to the Royal garden in every dynasty, and the lion culture followed meanwhile. Along with Buddhism's dissemination, in the buildings and artifacts in ancient china, the lion image become an essential auspicious decorative pattern, in the screen wall, windows, roof, drum stone, stigma, and zhuchu bridge railing etc., evolved the lion pattern in different poses and with different expressions. The upper rulers established their own authority and generosity by using the lion pattern, while the common people used the artistic lovely lion statues to guard their confidence in life and ideal.