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本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了中国石狮的来源、发展及象征意义。
Lion is a special animal to Chinese people. A couple of stone lions, a male and a female, are commonly seen in front of the gates of traditional buildings.
The lion is regarded as the king in the animal world so it represents power. The stone lions are also used to indicate the ranks of officials.
It is interesting to note that China had no lions originally. The earliest stone lions were sculpted at the beginning of Eastern Han Dynasty with the introduction of Buddhism into ancient China. In the Buddhist faith, the lion, which can protect the truth and keep off evils, is considered a holy animal of nobleness and dignity. In Chinese folk tales, the lion has become a symbol of bravery, power and good luck.
It was also popular to decorate bridges with stone lions for the same reason. The best known of these is the Lugou Bridge （also as Marco Polo Bridge）, built from 1189 to 1192. A famous proverb says, “The lions on the Lugou Bridge are uncountable （不可数的）.”
狮子对中国人来说是一种特殊的动物。一雄一雌的一对石狮子经常出现在传统建筑的大门前面。
狮子是百兽之王，它代表着权力。石狮子也被用来显示官员的等级。
有趣的是，中国最初没有狮子。随着佛教传入古代中国，最早的石狮子在东汉初年被雕刻出来。在佛教信仰中，狮子可以保护真理、驱除邪恶，被认为是尊贵神圣的动物。在中国民间传说中，狮子已经成为勇敢、权力和好运的象征。
出于同样的原因，用石狮子装饰桥梁也很受欢迎。其中最著名的是建于1189年至1192年间的卢沟桥（也叫马可·波罗桥）。有一句著名的谚语：“卢沟桥的狮子——数不清。”
commonly adv. 普遍地
represent vt. 代表
indicate vt. 表明，象征
dignity n. 尊严
The lion is regarded as the king in the animal world so it represents power.
狮子是百兽之王，它代表着权力。
In Chinese folk tales, the lion has become a symbol of bravery, power and good luck.
在中国民间传说中，狮子已经成为勇敢、权力和好运的象征。