Bronze Lion Statues of the Ningshou Palace

The Forbidden City was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the Ningshou Palace is located in the northeastern corner of the Forbidden City. The copper lions in the For-bidden City are auspicious beasts that guard the palace gates and protect the peace of the impe-rial city. There are currently six pairs of copper lions in the Forbidden City, among which the copper lions in front of the Ningshou Palace are deeply loved by people for their unique shapes. This article will focus on introducing the unique casting techniques and craftsmanship of the copper lions in the Ningshou Palace, which is of great significance for exploring the historical origin of the copper lions in the Forbidden City.