故宫以乾清门分为内、外朝两部分，外朝是皇帝处理政务的地方，内朝则是后宫起居之所。故宫中有很多铜狮子、铜仙鹤、铜麒麟等陈设，乾清门前也有两只铜狮子。但是绝大多数游客注意不到的是，游人如潮的乾清门前，这两只铜狮子的耳朵是耷拉着的，而故宫其他的狮子，则都是立着耳朵。 故宫专家介绍，清朝皇家禁止臣子进入后宫，更严禁后宫干预朝政，严禁女人走到朝前去。这两座铜狮子的耳朵耷拉着，就是要警示后宫嫔妃和佳丽们，对于前朝的政事，要少听、少议论。
The Imperial Palace is divided into two parts: the inner and the outer dynasties, where the emperor handles government affairs, and the inner dynasty where the emperor lives. There are many bronze lions, cranes and kirins in the Palace Museum. There are also two bronze lions in front of the Qianqing Gate. But what most tourists fail to notice is that the ears of these two copper lions are drooping in choufangg.89ix.comchuwuqit.37ix.com.cnbiaozhiz.37ix.com.cnqima.37ix.com.cnchuwuqi.37ix.com.cn chuguo.37ix.com.cnfront of the flooded Qianqing Gate, while the ears of other lions in the Palace Museum are standing. Experts at the Palace Museum said that the imperial court of the Qing Dynasty forbade its courtiers to enter the Imperial Palace, and even more forbade its interference in court affairs, and forbade women to go forward. The ears of these two bronze lions droop, which is to warn the imperial concubines and beauties that they should listen less and talk less about the affairs of the former dynasty.