The Chinese guardian lions, also known as Shishi lions or Fu/Foo ("buddha" or "prosperity") Lions, are a common representation of lions in pre-modern China. They are believed to have magical properties and the power to repel evil spirits, and have traditionally stood guard in front of Chinese Imperial palaces, temples, tombs and offices until the end of the empire in 1911. They are still commonly used as decorative and symbolic elements in front of restaurants, supermarkets, hotels etc.
APPEARANCE
The Shishi are traditionally depicted in pairs, representing yin (female) and yang (male). The circular object often shown beneath the male's right paw is the Tama (sacred Buddhist jewel), a symbol of Buddhist wisdom that brings light to darkness and holds the power to grant wishes, sometimes carved with a geometric pattern known as the Flower of Life. The female is essential identical, but holds a cub under the left paw, representing the cycle of life.
The statues can also sometimes be seen one with its mouth open and one with mouth shut. The opened/closed mouth relates to Ah (open mouth, first letter of the alphabet) and Un (closed mouth, last letter of the alphabet). These two sounds symbolise the beginning and end, birth and death, and all other possible outcomes (from alpha to omega). Other interpretations are that the open mouth would drive off demons, while the closed mouth shelters and keeps in good spirits. Japanese adaptation state that the male is inhaling, representing life, while the female exhales, representing death.
Traditionally, the statues were carved from expensive decorative stone, like marble or granite, or cast in bronze or iron. Due to the cost of reproducing these statues, private use of guardian lions was generally restricted to wealthy families or dynasties, and became a symbol of status. Nowadays, these lions can be mass produced and distributed to everyone at a much lower price. They are still very popular today, not only in China, but also in other parts of the world.
ORIGIN
In China, the lion is the master of all felines, the defender of law, and the protector of sacred buildings. It is a symbol of power and success, and of royalty and strength. The shishi is sometimes tattooed on a woman's belly to protect her during childbirth. The lion is not indigenous to China; however, Asiatic lions were quite commonly found in neighbouring India as well as Tibet. These Asiatic Lions found in Indian temples are model for those depicted in Chinese art. With the increased trade during the Han dynasty and cultural exchanges through the Silk Road, lions were introduced into China in form of pelts and live tribute, along with stories from Buddhist priests and travellers. Chinese sculptors modelled lion statues after native dog breeds such as the Chow Chow or Chih Tzu, which may have led to the misidentified term Foo/Fu Dogs, even though the statues are representative of lions.
IMAGES
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| Female Shishi lion at the Summer Palace, Beijing |
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| Statue looking over Mount Emei |
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| Chinese guardian lion in old Beijing, China |
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| A guardian lion in the Forbidden City |
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| A pair of guardian lion statues; the male on the left and the female on the right. |
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| Celadon Shishi |
Sources:
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/shishi.shtml
http://www.eons.com/groups/topic/1544693-Chinese-Foo-Lions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_guardian_lions
http://www.asianartmall.com/foodogarticle.htm
http://islandbeerclub.com/foodog.htm
