Products

Contact us

Tel:  +86 592 2688669, 2688699
Fax: +86 592 2688698, 2668899
Email:sales@stonejoy.com, stoneshop@gmail.com
Skype:Joyfullstone

COMPANY QQ: 3526740032-Click To Talk
SKYPE: skpye-Click To Talk skpye-Click To Talk
Home > Chinese stone lion sculptures

 

Chinese Guardian Stone Lions granite and marble material

 

Chinese guardian lions, also known as Fu lions, Stone Lions or Lions of Buddha (sometimes alsocalled Foo Dogs) are mythical beasts which is believed to have powerful protective powers.

Stone lion which is also called Chinese guardian lion or Imperial guardian lion is one of the popular mascots in China. The Chinese people have always regarded stone lions as auspicious things.

These sacred animals have traditionally stood in front of Chinese temples, imperial palaces, emperor’s tombs, homes of government officials and government offices. In China’s numerous beautiful gardens and attractions, various shapes of stone lions can be seen everywhere.

Traditionally, The stone lions are carved from decorative stone, such as marble and granite or cast in bronze or iron. The Stone Lion is the most commonly to see. In front of the gates of temples, great mansions, and big houses, you can easily spot a pair of stone lions as door guards. They are also in front of many modern buildings, and even can be found at the gates of many Chinese shopping malls overseas.

 

 

The history of Chinese Stone lions

But in fact there wasn’t any lion in ancient China, how did this custom of using the stone

lions as door guards come into being?

It is said that the lion was introduced into China in Han Dynasty (206B.C. -220 A .D.) from the Western Region through the Silk Road, lion as a kind of tribute first entered China.

And the earliest stone lions is believed to be sculpted at the beginning of the Eastern Han Dynasty with the introduction of Buddhism into China.

As lion had such dignity and majesty, it began to appear in front of the imperial tombs and the burial grounds of the royal families since the Han dynasty. However, it was placed only in front of the tombs and often discharged together with stone statues such as stone horses and stone goats to shock people and create awe at that time.

Then the stone lion walked towards the common Chinese people, it became the guardian animal of the gate after the Song dynasty.

 

The appearances of different dynasties stones lions are distinctive. Besides, stone lions have the obvious local features. As a whole, the lions from the northern China are more decent and simple-carved, while the lions from the South are more vivid and alive with many matching accessory sculptures. Most of lions have curly hairs.

 

Types of Stone Lions

Through out the ages, Stone Foo Dogs were frequently given as gifts to the Emperor. They would be presented in sculptures or in the form of artwork. Stone Foo Dog artwork varies.

The lions can also be divided into different types due to their modeling and meaning, such as:

 

Beijing lion (北京狮: běijīng shī):

Chinese stone lions near the entrance of many of the major landmarks in China such as the palace of the Qing and Ming Dynasties and the Forbidden City.

It is referred to the guardian lions in the Beijing Forbidden City. They are the symbol of the imperial power and generally dignified and mighty. The rulers believed that lions can not only avoid evil but also bring auspiciousness.

 

Money bringing lion (献钱狮: xiàn qián shī)

It is named after a string of ancient money in the front.

It is a type of stone lions in the south. The money bringing lions have the meaning of bringing money and more people in. They look cute and clever. They are one of the most common forms of stone lions in the folk life and often placed in front of temples or ancestral halls.

 

Ball playing lion (戏球狮: xìqiúshī):

Ball play lion is one of the most popular types of stone lions in the south. Both male and female lions are playing big embroidered balls is the main feature of this type. People believe this ball playing will bring them a fortune.

 

Playing lion (戏狮: xìshī)

They are happily looking lions, which mean good luck.

 

The Chinese Foo dogs Related to Yin and Yang Philosophy.

Generally, it should be a pair of lions with female in the right hand side and male the left according to Chinese traditional Yin and Yang philosophy. The female lion is usually carved to have a child lion between her paws, while the male lion is playing a ball with one paw. The female of the pair is said to protect the interior of the place as well as its worshipping believers or inhabitants and the male guards the structure. The male lion stands taller than the female, sometimes the female’s mouth is closed and the male’s mouth is open.

 

It is said that the Chinese guardian lions have the ability to discover the bad intentions from someone who is coming into the house. These guardian lions prevent those bad people from causing the intended damage and help to ward off evil spirits and influences. If placed at your office’s door, they would help you eliminate bad feelings such as envy or jealousy so that it wont effect your career.

 

The Chinese Foo Dog is embodied in rich Chinese history and tradition. As one of the symbol of Chinese Culture, they are still very popular today, not only in China, but also in other parts of the world.  They are fantastic dogs not only infused with artwork – but with meaning.

 

If you have interests to know more information about Chinese Stone Lion Culture, please feel free to contact us.

As a manufacturer of stone sculptures in China, we are supplying different style garden stone decorations and sculputures.