Chinese guardian lion

Bronze Chinese Guardian Lion This is a typical Chinese Guardian Lion as seen all over China. It is not a mere representation of a lion, but has a symbolic dimension. They are also called Fu Dogs due to their "doggish" features.

Guardian Lions are found made from stone or bronze. Typically they come in pairs with a male Guardian Lion on the right and a female Guardian Lion on the left of an entrance to a shrine or other sacred place. The female Guardian Lion usually has a single cub.

The bronze Guardian Lion shown here is the male. Note the demonic aspect of the face, the regal band around the neck, and the square of carpet on which the Guardian Lion is sitting. The left paw is placed on a globe where the Guardian Lion is said the be "feeling the pulse of the world".