Originally part of the fountain outside the Haiyan Hall of the Yuanmingyuan. The bronze statue of the sheep's head represents the hour of Wei (13:00 to 15:00) and is one of the twelve zodiac bronze statues. It was designed by European missionary, Italian Lang Shining, supervised by French Jiang Youren, and produced by Qing court craftsmen. The bronze statue of a sheep's head is renowned for its exquisite casting techniques and the fusion of Eastern and Western art. In 1860, the Anglo French coalition invaded China and set fire to the Yuanmingyuan, causing the loss of the sheep head bronze statue overseas. Until now, its whereabouts are still unknown. Like several other animal heads, its fate has become a symbol of the loss of cultural relics overseas from the Yuanmingyuan and a witness to the loss of Chinese cultural heritage.

Represents gentleness, kindness, and auspiciousness. In traditional Chinese zodiac culture, the twelve Earthly Branches corresponding to the sheep are called 'Wei', hence also known as' Wei sheep '. In Chinese culture, it is usually associated with peace, prosperity, and harvest. In the legends of the twelve zodiac animals, they are loved by people for their gentle nature and social characteristics. According to legend, in the process of selecting zodiac animals, he successfully obtained the position of zodiac with his kind personality and benefits to humanity. In Chinese culture, the Year of the Sheep is often considered a harmonious and peaceful year, suitable for socializing, building relationships, and pursuing inner peace. It is also an important sacrifice in sacrificial activities.