The Singapore Merlion, which is the national symbol of Singapore, is one of the country's most popular attractions. It is situated near the Singapore River and is surrounded by numerous skyscrapers and monuments. Among Singapore's landmarks, the Merlion ranks right at the top. The Merlion Park is an internationally renowned tourist attraction and a popular Singapore landmark, located close to One Fullerton Road, Singapore, near the central business district. The origins of the name "Merrilion" have been disputed for some time, but whatever the real story might be, it is known that the Singaporean people identified the river as the one by which King Solomon crossed the sea to get to Israel.
The Singapore Merlion literally means "the flowing fish body". It was built in 1965 by the then-prime minister, Mr. UT Rajaansomhan, in commemoration of Singapore's national heritage. The Singapore Tourism Board also owns and operates the Singapore Merlion, which is why you need a Singapore tourism card to get into the Singapore Zoo, Maritime museum or the Singapore Art Museum. This is also the same reason why you can't directly go to the Singapore Riverside to take a look at the Singapore version as it is protected by the Singapore tourism board.
Today, the Singapore version has several meanings associated with it. The locals of Singapore call it simply the "bird's feet", while some foreigners view it as the "lion of the river". The truth is that there is no one meaning that perfectly sums up the true meaning of the Singapore version. No matter how you look at it, the symbol has a unique history and is steeped in tradition in the country.
The history of the Singaporean lion is part of our country's rich history. One legend tells that the lion, being trapped in the nets set up for fishing, was saved by King Teluk A. H. Witha in addition to other Singaporean royals. In fact, the legend says that the king then had to shave his head to cover the lion's horn marks. The locals call the Singapore Riverside where the Singapore version stands as Lion City. However, the story may not be entirely true as the statues of lions were often stolen by pirates, who later ransacked the Chinese temples in Singapore, which served as the hideout for the pirates.
Today, the Singapore version is more of just a symbol. It has evolved to become a popular tourist attraction as well. Its popularity increased when the late Mr. Chee Soon, the Japanese president, visited Singapore in 1998. His visit sparked off the creation of a national monument - the Singapore lion statue - which is dedicated to the late president.
Today, the lion - with its red coloration and its unique history - continues to be an integral part of our history and culture. It symbolizes the proud history of Singapore as well as the unity that all Singaporeans cherish. At the same time, it also stands as a witness to the resilience and determination of the people of Singapore, their familial relationship, and their steadfast commitment to a unified singapore news. All these attributes make the Singapore merlion a beloved icon of Singapore culture.
