吉祥如意劍獅小公仔

Sword Lion—An Anping Mascot and Guardian of Peace

The story of Sword Lion, as documented in Wu Bei Chi or Records of Weaponry published by Mao Yuan-yi in the Ming Dynasty, goes as follows: In ancient times, the naval officers and soldiers were armed with lion-headed shields, each having an open mouth and flashing teeth with a fierce and awesome-inspiring appearance. Since the time when Koxinga, Prince of Yanping arrived in Taiwan, the naval troops of the Ming and Qing dynasties had been based in Anping Township. During the nighttime, when officers and soldiers retired to rest, they would hang up their shields on the wall and insert their swords into the shields. The lion-headed shields on the wall served to guard against thieves and robbers, safeguarding the security and property of the residents, This significance of Sword Lion gradually evolved into the totem of a sword lion in every household in Anping. Over the past three hundred years, the Sword Lion has always blessed the residents of Anping, enabling them to live peacefully through various wars and disasters. In addition to its protection of civilian residents, the Sword Lion serves as a guardian for Anping residents to ward off evil spirits, conquer demons, pacify the household, and pray for good fortune.