Cast iron statues of animals associated with Imperial China - dragon, deer, male and female lions. The female plays with a little lion cub, and the male plays with a ball, symbolising the earth. Or something like that.
Large, large bronze pots filled with water everywhere - these would be used in case of fires. During winter wood would be burned under them continually to keep them from freezing over. How decadent!
Some stone carving of a thingy with a hole. More symbolism, 99% of which I have forgotten the meaning of. The square shape meant something…justice? How the Emperor was always right? The circle hole - the earth, universe, that the Emperor ruled over? And there was something to do with the function of the hole itself. And then of course there are dragons around it which is pretty much a given when it comes to Chinese stuff. So terribly over the top and gaudy.
There are wells, too scattered around the place. They seemed to be all dried up though. Or maybe the water was just a very very far way down?
Wish I posted all my China entries earlier. It’s quite painful looking back at the photos now. They look terrible!!!
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