guardian lions

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Scope note
Statues in the shape of a lion or a lion-dog, usually of terra cotta, stone, or wood, particularly such statues placed in pairs as guardians at the entrances of tombs, palaces, and government offices in China and other Buddhist sites in Asia and elsewhere. They represent the "Dog of Fo," a mythical beast that was half lion and half dog. The figures first appeared in Han China in the late third century BCE, probably developing from Indian depictions of the lion as the protector of dharma.
guardian lions
Accepted term: 29-Apr-2024