guardian lions
Stone temple protectors
Guardian lions are paired stone sculptures traditionally placed at the entrances of Chinese palaces, temples, and important buildings.
One lion typically has a ball underfoot (representing the world), the other a cub (representing nurture).
They serve as symbolic protectors, warding off evil spirits.
Also called foo dogs or fu dogs in Western usage, though they represent lions, not dogs.
- foo dogsChinese protective lion statues
- stoneSolid earth fragment
- templeSacred worship structure
- ChineseOf that Asian nation
- gateHinged barrier in fence
protectors · statues · imperial · palace · entrance · marble · fierce · mane · ball · cub · male and female · bronze · pair · ornamental · mythical · sentinels · flanking · doorway
guardian lionsevil spirits
Malevolent supernatural beings
oni · hungry ghosts · hellhounds · predators · intruders
guardian, guardians, guard, guards, guarded, guarding, guardianship, safeguard, lion