Panlong Pillar Stone Carving, located in Zhonghe Guangji Palace, Xinbei City, Taiwan, China, China

Shilongzhu is a traditional form of Chinese architecture that has been carved from natural stone throughout history. It is commonly used in ancient palaces, corridors, tombs, and other places. In modern times, it is often installed in squares, temple corridors, and ancestral halls to provide load-bearing and decorative effects. Due to the carving of dragon patterns on its pillars, it is called a stone dragon pillar or a stone carved coiled dragon pillar. The stone dragon pillar is usually carved from lapis lazuli, with a circular or square base, known as the Sumeru or Lotus Seat. The pillar is engraved with a coiled dragon rising and falling to look at each other, and decorated with auspicious cloud patterns. The bottom of the pillar is engraved with water patterns or mountains, symbolizing auspiciousness, wealth, and prosperity.