Chinese guardian lions, or imperial guardian lions, are a traditional Chinese architectural ornament. Typically made of stone, they are also known as stone lions or shishi (石獅; shíshī). They are known in colloquial English as lion dogs or foo dogs / fu dogs.
These stylized guardian lions, known in Chinese as shi or shishi (石獅 shíshī /shrr-shrr/ 'stone-lions' — there's a popular tongue-twister associated with the tones), sometimes as 'Foo Dogs' in English, originating not in China itself, but in Persia.
Jun 7, 2023 · In the rich tapestry of Chinese culture, one cannot help but be captivated by the majestic presence of stone lions. These iconic sculptures, with their imposing stature and intricate details, hold a significant place in Chinese art, architecture, and folklore.
Stone lion is carved out of stone, which is the common ornament in Chinese traditional architecture, such as imperial palace, temple, Buddha pagoda, bridge, mausoleum, mansion, gardens and so on. Lion indicates safety and luck in China.
Komainu (狛犬), often called lion-dogs in English, are statue pairs of lion -like creatures, which traditionally guard the entrance or gate of the shrine, or placed in front of or within the honden (inner sanctum) of Japanese Shinto shrines.
The Iron Lion of Cangzhou (Chinese: 铁 狮子; pinyin: Tiě Shīzi), also known as the "Sea Guard Howler", is a cast iron sculpture located in Cangzhou City, in Hebei Province, China, about 180 km (110 mi) southwest of Beijing.
In the West, Stone Lions are often referred to as Chinese Guardian Lions or Imperial Guardian Lions. They are beautifully crafted statues of lions, one male (with a ball under his paw representing supremacy over the world) and one female (with a …