Lion Tombstone [狮子墓碑] @ Choa Chu Kang Cemetery

Unbeknownst to many people, the size, design and inscriptions of a tombstone are subject to government's approval (in this case, from NEA - National Environment Agency) and that would explain the unexciting, similarity that we often see on the many graves in Singapore's only operational cemetery. 

Approval is required doesn't mean that exception is not allowed. 

My recent (okay, actually not that recent) visit to Choa Chu Kang Cemetery with SPI brought me to a number of graves with very unique design; one of which is a lion tombstone.

Here it is! 

I know for a fact that this is not the only lion tomb in the cemetery; in the last cemeteries tour i signed up with SPI six years ago, we stopped at a tomb with a lion lying on its side!

With tear-like stains supposedly flowing down its cheeks and a sad looking face, it's hard not to assume that this lion was mourning for the death of the occupant (a lady known as 吴笑蘭 - a search on google drew a blank) that laid underneath it.

For a person who doesn't understand Chinese, he/she might have dismissed this tomb as one with an unusual appearance. 

Not for me though; two vertical Chinese verses [one of them had the following: "朱雀来仪乾坤定"'] strongly supported the notion that it must be related to fengshui! 

Unfortunately, the first verse was essential to unlock the mystery and all my photographs fail to capture it! Guess a second visit would help to bring us closer to our answer.