A
dragon pillar
is a
decorative column, usually small-sized and made of stone, i.e. marble, granite,
porcelain
or
terracotta,
and carved or decorated with
dragon
bas-reliefs
(fig.)
and
clouds or
cloud scrolls.
It is a characteristic feature in Chinese palace and temple
architecture, and usually lines staircases or tops balustrades of
bridges (fig.)
or those surrounding a
building, although it can also be found in a larger size, used as a
decorative support pillar inside a temple building (fig.).
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