Legend has it that in 1399, the Sumatran Prince,
Sang Nila Utama, after a storm tossed crossing from Bintan to Tumasek Island, spied an animal with a golden mane. He had never seen such an animal as yet and was told it was a
Singa, the sanskrit word meaning lion.
Henceforth, he promulgated that the island would be called
Singapura or the Lion City.
Whether he actually saw a real lion or not has been the subject of debate ever since.
Nevertheless, the lion has become the symbol of this city.
I thought it would be interesting to see where in Singapore, this animal can still be found.
Here are some of the places or icons where the lion serves as a reminder that this is the Lion City.
(Click on the photo for larger detailed views)
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| Coleman Bridge |
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| Bank of China, Battery Road. |
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| The Cenotaph War Memorial, Esplanade Park |
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| The Merlion, Marina Bay |
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| Lim Bo Seng Memorial, Elizabeth walk |
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| Fullerton Building |
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| National Museum of Singapore |
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| Peninsula Hotel |
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| Singa the Courtesy Lion, Fort Canning |
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| The State Crest |
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| The State Mace |
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| Replica of the Merdeka Lion, Bukit Batok East Police Centre |
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The former tomb of Tan Kim Ching at 13ms Changi Road.
The 4 lion statues are now at the National Museum of Singapore.
(The 2 in the rear are elephants not lions) |
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Lion statue from the former grave of Mr Tan Kim Ching, National Museum of Singapore.
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Grave guardian lion statue at Bukit Brown Cemetery.
(Grave of Mr & Mrs Tan Cheng Hoe, my grandparents) |
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| Former Bukit Timah Fire Station |
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Chinese Gardens, Jurong Town.
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| Armenian Street Restaurant Signboard |
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| Armenien Street Shop Signboard |
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| Cavenagh Brodge |
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| Singapore Fire Service helmet |
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| Ngee Ann City |
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| Tangs Department Store |
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| Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry |
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| Municipal City Emblem |
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| Istana Gates |
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| The Legends Lion |
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St Mark's Lions, Sacred Heart Church
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| Wak Hai Cheng Bio, Philip Street |
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| Ying Po Fu Kun Ancestral Temple |
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| Chinese Weekly Entertainment Club |
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Teochew Building Lions
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I will add to this post as and when I find more lions in Singapore. Do return for more updates occasionally. There will be a photo essay of the lions found at Bukit Brown Cemetery following soon.
If you do know where lions can be found, please send me a comment.
