Anshun - a small city with old stories of its lesser-known attractions

The Qing Dynasty's Anshun Prefecture, now the Confucian Temple, was a place of learning, famous for its stone columns and stonemasonry. The dragon columns in front of the hall are particularly outstanding, matching the height of the eaves, and are more than ten times around in size, carved with great intricacy. The twin dragons twist and turn, soaring through clouds and mist, as if alive. Under the sunlight, their scales seem to shimmer, almost visible. Below, two huge lions gaze up at the twin dragons. If one were to trace back to the craftsman responsible for the dragon columns and stone lions in the Confucian Temple, it would be difficult to find an answer. Legend has it that a 'Su Stonemason' won the bid for his 'skilled carving'. Of course, although it was Su Stonemason, it was not Su alone. This means that it started with Su Stonemason, and the collective creation of many stonemasons. There is also a story: after the completion of the academy, the then governor of Anshun, a man named Zhang Zhuangque, thought the two lions at his mansion were too small and wanted to move the lions from the academy to his residence. However, it was this Su Stonemason who understood his intention and carved another pair of majestic lions to stand outside the General's Gate, truly 'majestic and imposing, commanding respect in the area.' Later, these stone lions, without any contradiction, were moved to other places.