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云南，不止是一个名词，
更是永不厌倦的风景~
云南位于中国西南部，
与缅甸、老挝、越南接壤。
昆明是云南的省会，四季温暖如春，
故称为“春城”。
在云南，
闲看花开花落、慢观云卷云舒~~
瓦猫，
瓦片上泥塑神兽，
是云南民间独有的守护神。
在汉、彝、白等民族传统民居的屋脊、
门头、窗前等视野开阔的位置，
都能看到瓦猫的身影。
Tile cats, known as “wamao” in Mandarin, are traditional clay roof ridge beasts prevailing in northwest Yunnan’s Dali area. They normally crouch on rooftops, doors, or windows of those traditional residential houses of Han, Yi, Bai, and other minorities.
瓦猫，
虽被冠以猫名，
但却寓虎于猫，
取虎凶猛无畏之意，
以达到镇宅的目的。
主要流传于云南昆明、
是云南独特的民俗文化之一。
Although the tile cat is named “cat” but actually implies “tiger”. With fierceness and fearlessness, the two distinguished characteristics of the tiger, the tile cat are believed to have the ability to protect the house and people who live there. In Kunming, Cheng’gong, Yuxi, Qujing, Chuxiong, Dali, and Wenshan of Yunnan province it can be found in different styles, shapes, and production techniques, but similar symbolic significances, which is one of the unique folk cultures of Yunnan.
由于流传的地区不同，
各地对其称呼也不相同，
昆明附近叫它“石猫猫”，
因在彝语里猫和虎同音。
有的称其”四不像“
因其似猫非猫，似虎非虎。
有的称其为“降脊虎”，
认为其能为人们驱走鬼怪，
是带来吉祥的老虎。
The name of the tile cat varies from place to place. in the Kunming region, people call it “Shi Maomao(stone cat)” since the pronunciation of the cat is the same as the tiger in the Yi language. As an animal with "the morphology of a tiger, which is not a tiger”, it was called “neither cat nor tiger” in several regions. It was called “Roof Ridge Beast” as well, because people believe that it could safeguard the family from monsters and apparitions and bring good fortune.
云南瓦猫
事实上和故宫太和殿的屋脊兽一样，
在装饰建筑和守屋镇宅的作用上，
有着异曲同工之处。
可以说，
瓦猫是古代云南和中原地区文化融合的产物。
The tile cat in Yunnan shares the same characteristics as the Roof-ridge beast in the Hall of Supreme Harmony of the Forbidden City. They are all refers to as auspicious items which can bring households enduring safeguards. Or we can call it a product of the cultural fusion between ancient Yunnan and the central plain regions.
图片来源于：《故宫100》 纪录片
云南各地的瓦猫，
一般站、蹲、坐在一块脊瓦上。
其造型千奇百怪、不拘一格，
可以说千猫千面。
有的身上刻有鱼鳞纹，
有的头上长角，
有的还携带各路法器来强化功能。
It was serving as the guardian of people's courtyards is unique to Yunnan province. The modelings are diverse in different regions, you can see them stand, squat, or sit on the rooftops. Every tile cat has its own unique mold, for example, some of them are covered with fish-scale patterns, some have horns on the head, or even carry weapons and armor to enhance their abilities.
这些千姿百态的瓦猫，
能让人感受到原始、
淳朴的民间艺术魅力，
而这样打动人的平淡天真，
即使是享誉世界的艺术大师也曾经执着追求。
Tens of thousands of tile cats record the folk life experience, with the consciousness it also fully illustrates folks love life, want to realize happiness, and wish for the future of the world. As a kind of cultural carrier, it attracted many famous artists from all over the world.
随着历史的更迭，
建筑方式的改变，
作为守护兽的瓦猫已慢慢走下屋脊，
以新的方式走进了我们的生活。
Nowadays, with changes in history and architecture, the tile cats are taking on new forms in our daily lives. There has always been an interesting relationship between the preservation of cultural heritage and the development of technology. The tile cat is a brilliant example of combining tradition with modernity and integrating art into life.
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