Guardians

What makes you feel safe? Physical safety is one of our most fundamental needs, and generally speaking, we're a lot safer now than we were a thousand years ago — most of us aren't worrying about things like dirty water, disease, wild animal attacks, and the elements. But just as important as physical safety is emotional safety, the feeling of security that gives us peace of mind, and when it comes to feeling safe, something that's often just as important as actual physical safety is the symbols we put stock in, the ideas that help us feel safe, secure, and comfortable. Today, we'll look at two pairs of symbols that, although they date back over a thousand years, are still a common sight all over modern China: the door gods and stone lions. Join me, Jaer Christie, as I explore the hidden legends that shape the world on The Mythographist: Myths of Mainland China. Written, narrated, and produced by Jaer Christie Research by Jaer Christie & Elena Tung Music: "Dancing Abroad" and "The Night" by Shaoqing Luna Li - https://filmmusic.io/u/sqluna/music License CC BY 4.0 - (https://filmmusic.io/standard-license) "Spring by Lakeside," "A Flower is Not a Flower," and "Peony Khan" by China National Orchestra, used under CC fair use.