"These sculptures were created by Mr. Han Meilen. Consisting of the main and auxiliary works, the sculptures are positioned across the central axis south of Shenzhen Stock Exchange Plaza.

"The main sculpture is seated on a foundation in the form of an ox head, symbolizing exploration, industry and persistance. Featuring a pair of dragons leaping into the sky, the main sculpture presents a solemn and powerful dragon gate. The phoenixes, with wings fully expanded, embody the spirit of constant self-renewal in nirvana. The scene of all three mythical creatures holding the symbol of "Taiji" in the center gives expression to syncretism in harmony of the heaven, elements and human existance.

"The auxiliary sculpture consists of three bronze oxen, and several bears in diverse postures. One ox stands tall with its head uplifted, ready for a forceful charge. The second ox, with its hooves firmly planted in ground, calmly lets energy accumulate in its body. The third ox, lifting its hooves and poised for a vigorous move, is surrounded by an aura of invincibility. Several bears run about the three oxen. Some are submissive while others frolic joyfully in amusing naivety, lightening up the whole sculptural scene with great delight and interest."

Taiji (simplified Chinese: 太极; traditional Chinese: 太極; pinyin: tàijí; literally: "great pole") is a Chinese cosmological term for the "Supreme Ultimate" state of undifferentiated absolute and infinite potential, the oneness before duality, from which Yin and Yang originate.

The tall dragon gate is about 40-50 feet tall.

The base of the 3 bulls is about 5 feet tall and the little bears that surround it are each about 3 feet tall.

>>1063060

https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Meilin

Han Meilin

Han Meilin (simplified Chinese: 韓美林; traditional Chinese: 韩美林; pinyin: Hán Měilín; born 1936 in Jinan, Shandong) is a Chinese artist most recognized today for his creation of the Fuwa dolls for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Han is also known to have lived through hard times during the Cultural Revolution.

Biography

In 1955 he was admitted to the Central Academy of arts and design (中央工艺美术学院), now part of Tsinghua University. In 1960 he graduated.

Han is also known to have been tortured in the past. In a 2008 interview, Han admitted his tendon was cut during the Cultural Revolution. His thumbs became useless until later repaired by doctors.

Career

In 1979, he was elected to the China Artists Association (中国美术家协会). He has also published influential work such as Baoguo Sanwen (包过散文, Bāoguò Sǎnwén). In 1980, he was in the United States, holding art exhibitions in 21 cities including Boston and New York City. He was given the key to the city of San Diego as an honorary citizen and the city of Manhattan declared October 1, 1980 as Han Meilin Day. In 1983 six of his work were printed on Christmas cards issued by the United Nations. He also gave lectures at Harvard University.

In 1986, he was selected as a delegate to the Sixth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

In 1989, he held three art exhibitions at the Crown Art Center in Taipei. From 1991 to 1994 he had solo art shows in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by Malaysia, Hong Kong and India. He spoke at Yale University in 1999.

He has also fought the sale of illegal art activities in Beijing, saying most of the paintings sold in auction fairs are not real.

Throughout his career, he has published painting albums as Meilin's Paintings, Art Works of Han Meilin, Mountain Flowers in Full Bloom, Still on the Earth, 100-chicken Paintings, Painting Collection of Han Meilin and Selection of Arts and Crafts Works of Han Meilin. He was once the art designer of paper-cutting cartoons such as Fox Capturing Hunter, Fox Sending Grapes and Hide-and-seek. He also designed the pig postal stamps for China in 1983, panda stamps for 1985 and the phoenix logo for Air China.

He also designed the Five-Dragon Clock Tower sculpture for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. He also finished the Group Tiger for the city of Dalian in Liaoning Province, No.1 Bull for Jinan and Cock Crows to Herald the Break of Day for Zibo in Shandong Province, Sacred Bull for Shekou, a bronze bull with luminous pearl and the King of Western Chu (Xiang Yu) made of stainless steel for Shenzhen in Guangdong Province. More recently, he designed the 2008 Olympics mascots, the Fuwa, and the symbols that represent each Olympic sport.

In 2015, on October 15 at the UNESCO Headquarters, he was named the UNESCO Artist For Peace. “In recognition of his long-term commitment to promoting art and artistic education in China, his support to providing quality education to young people, notably through projects led by the Han Meilin Art Foundation, and his dedication to the ideals and aims of the Organization.” He has also announced plans to donate a 7-meter-tall bronze statue entitled Guardian of Peace, to UNESCO on the occasion of the Organization’s 70th anniversary.

>>1063060

http:// chinesedragonstudy.weebly.com/dragon-gate.html

The carp has leaped through the dragon's gate

On the Yellow River at Hunan Province, there is a waterfall called the Dragon Gate. It is said that if certain carp can climb the cataract they will transform into dragons. Every year in the third month of spring they swim up from the sea and gather in vast numbers in the pool at the foot of the falls. It used to be said that only seventy one could make the climb in any year. When the first succeeded, then the rains would begin to fall. This Dragon Gate was said to have been created after the Flood by the god-emperor Yu who split a mountain blocking the path of the Yellow River. It was so famous that throughout China there was a common saying that: 'a student facing his examinations is like a carp attempting to leap the Dragon Gate.'

According to Chinese mythology, the Dragon Gate is located at the top of a waterfall cascading from a legendary mountain. Many carps swim upstream against the river’s strong current, but few are capable or brave enough for the final leap over the waterfall. If a carp successfully makes the jump, it is transformed into a powerful dragon. A Chinese dragon’s large, conspicuous scales indicate its origin from a carp. The Chinese dragon has long been an auspicious symbol of great and benevolent, magical power.

The image of a carp jumping over Dragon’s Gate is an old and enduring Chinese cultural symbol for courage, perseverance, and accomplishment. Historically, the dragon was the exclusive symbol of the emperor of China and the five-character expression, Liyu Tiao Long Men, was originally used as a metaphor for a person’s success in passing very difficult imperial examinations, required for entry into imperial administrative service. To this day, when a student from a remote country village passes the rigorous national university examination in China, friends and family proudly refer to the “Liyu Tiao Long Men.” More generally, the expression is used to communicate that if a person works hard and diligently, success will one day be achieved.