Hundred Lions Garden of the Chang Family Manor

Hundred Lions Garden of the Chang Family Manor

Passing through a modest four-pillar, three-gate wooden memorial archway guarded by four bluestone lions of varying sizes, you’ll find yourself in a realm densely populated with tall trees such as locust, willow, pine, and lilac, along with wildflowers and shrubs. The scenery here is wildly charming, with winding paths leading to secluded spots, giving off the feeling of discovering a hidden paradise. Beyond the archway stands a "品"-shaped hip-and-gable roofed arched gateway with rolled eaves and round vaults. On both sides of the arched gateway, the decorative walls are inlaid with exquisitely crafted openwork brick carvings known as “Double-Layer Low-Relief Antiquities Patterns.” These brick carvings often draw inspiration from bronze vessels of various dynasties since the Xia and Shang periods, featuring images such as precious tripods, wine vessels, incense burners, and vases, as well as scenes based on antique ornaments like writing desks, the Four Treasures of the Study, painting scrolls, dusters, and floral motifs. The compositions are elegant and scholarly, offering an appreciation of highbrow culture. Such designs were commonly used in the residences of literati and scholars, making them refined and exceptional pieces among brick carving themes. Stepping through the small gate, you’ll be greeted by a rolled-roof hall with two-columned porticos, surrounded by pavilions, corridors, and trees. Scattered throughout the area are numerous stone lions of varying sizes, materials, styles, and forms—this is the “Lion Garden” of the Chang Family Manor, also known as the “Hundred Lions Garden.” The Hundred Lions Garden has a natural, uncontrived charm, showing no traces of artificial carving.

Following the winding forest path far ahead, you’ll see a screen wall hidden among the trees, guarded by four stone lions of different sizes, known as the “Four Lions” Screen Wall. This is the largest existing brick-carved screen wall in the Chang Family Manor. Although much of the carving has been eroded by time, you can still make out patterns such as peonies, phoenixes, and qilins (mythical beasts). The peony is the king of flowers, the phoenix the king of birds, and the qilin the king of beasts—collectively referred to as the “Three Kings.” The screen wall features exquisite carvings in graceful and unique designs, making it a rare masterpiece. It has thus become one of the star attractions that many visitors eagerly photograph since the manor opened to the public.

The lions in the Lion Garden are arranged in layers, varying greatly in size, some standing, some lying down, some still, some in motion—too many to count. Some suspect there might be a hundred lions in the garden, but the more they count, the more they find. Here and there, a little lion is hidden in the grass, or perched atop a larger lion’s back, creating a dazzling spectacle.

The reason lion sculptures are so favored lies not only in their majestic image and lively character but also in their rich symbolism. The Chinese character for “lion” (狮) is homophonous with “affair” (事) and “descendant” (嗣). Two lions standing together signify double blessings; an elder lion with a cub represents career success or attaining the ranks of Grand Tutor and Lesser Tutor; a female lion with a cub symbolizes a flourishing lineage; and a male lion playing with a ball reflects the auspicious wish that “where the lion rolls the ball, good fortune follows.” Therefore, this Lion Garden in the Quiet Garden of the Chang Family Manor not only showcases the evolution of lion sculpture in China’s sculptural history but also reflects Chinese folk traditions. This museum-style display of lion sculptures is also quite rare across the country.

Location

Chang Family Manor, Yuci District, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province