In the local area, when a woman is pregnant, she will put a baby lion on the kang and tie a red rope around her. This can not only bind the soul of the fetus conceived by pregnant women, but also protect the mother and children. Because the stone lion is here, the room will be full of masculinity, and the mother and son will not be disturbed by evil spirits. This custom has a strong superstitious color and can only give people a kind of spiritual comfort and sustenance.
But when the baby is long enough to climb, the stone lion doll on the kang really has a specific purpose. Adults use 1 meter long red cloth belt, one end tied to the baby's waist and the other end tied to the little stone lion. This stone lion can not only be used as a toy, but also prevent children from crawling around and rolling down the kang. Therefore, Shishi Wa is also called "baby bound lion" or "baby bound lion". These "baby lions" are childish, silly and mischievous, and some of them are like smart, lively and lovely urchins. Some are like strong little soldiers, and some are like naughty eggs in my mother's arms; Some have round heads and brains like simple and honest puppies. In the eyes of local people, these "little lions" are not animals, but beasts, spirits and auspicious animals that can drive away evil spirits and avoid disasters. The lion image in this folk art is entrusted with people's wishes.
Traveling in northern Shaanxi, you will often see a small stone lion on the roofs of some farmhouses, under the shadow wall facing the courtyard gate, or in front of the land temple. This is the stone carving art created by men in northern Shaanxi. Generally speaking, it is not big enough, but small enough. Its image is natural, lively, bold, vivid and interesting. Some are naive, like naughty children; Some are as honest as the old peasants in northern Shaanxi; Some are sedate and serene, as gentle and amiable as loving mothers; Some are as vigorous and dignified as warriors. These dynamic and diverse little stone lions are completely different from those lions crouching in front of big houses and temples. The local people affectionately call these little stone lions "stone lions". Because of its different dynamics and different positions, the stone lions have different "responsibilities": at the top of the gatehouse, they are called "house-protecting lions"; Those placed under the shadow wall or in front of the land niche in the door are called "courtyard lions".
It is a traditional custom of local people to put stone lions in proper places. People think that the lion is the king of beasts, which can not only drive away disasters and demons, but also bring good luck to people. Moreover, the soil erosion in northern Shaanxi is serious, so people worship a stone lion in front of the gatehouse and house, hoping that it can prevent the deep ditch that has extended to the front of the door from collapsing again.