No Lions In China?
by Chet Braun -- Hung Gar & Tai Chi Instructor
Everywhere in China the images of lions abound. Pairs
of carved stone or cast metal lions adorn every conceivable
business, house, main thoroughfare, and side street. Even
in the West these images are common. Yet, lions are not
native to China. What are the origins of China's infatuation
with a rarely seen animal from a far land?
Early contact with western countries, such as Africa
and West Asia, as early as the Eastern Han Dynasty may
have introduced the lion to China as gifts to the court.
The King of Parthia is recorded as having presented such
a gift to Emperor Zhang in A.D. 87. The lion was quickly
adopted as a symbol of power.
Guardian lion statues, in China, are often seen in pairs--one
female and one male. The male lion sits to the left of
the female and their eyes are turned to gaze at the passage
between them. The male lion's right front paw rests on
a ball that represents the unity of the empire. The lioness'
left paw fondles a cub symbolizing the thriving offspring.
Stone balls, captive in their mouths, represent pearls
of purity and perfection. Both lions offer stern but regal
visages to those passing between them.
Soon after the lion was enlisted as a symbol of the court's
power they began to adorn the entries to the court official's
houses. Although not limited to the court alone, lions
with 13 curls in their mane originally guarded the houses
of the highest ranking officials. Lower officials were
allowed little ones with fewer curls down to a mane with
only seven. Today, a pair of magnificent bronze lions
guard the entrance to one of the palaces of the Forbidden
City. Another prominent example is the Marco Polo Bridge
near Beijing. At the top of its 501 stone balusters are
lions of various sizes and postures. And near Zheng Zhou,
at the infrequently visited but immaculately kept temple
of Guan Gung, lions similarly adorn the post-heads along
an inner-court path.
The earliest lion sculptures in China may have been crafted,
with the introduction of Buddhism into China, at the beginning
of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220 A.D.). The Cangzhou
Lion, cast in A.D. 953, stands 5.4 meters tall and weighs
50 metric tons. It is known to be the largest iron casting
in the world. It depicts the bodhisattva Manjusri riding
in a lotus flower mounted on the back of a swift lion.
Sakyamuni (founder of the Buddhist faith), after his birth
was seen "to point to Heaven with one hand and to
Earth with another, roaring like a lion, 'Between Heaven
and Earth I alone am supreme.'" Elsewhere it is also
said "Buddha is a lion among men. Lord Ashoka used
a triple stone lion to symbolize the three treasures.
The original statue is kept at Sarnath where Buddha gave
the wheel of law its first turn. The image of this statue
was imprinted on the Indian rupee and remains there to
this day.
Second only to the dragon, the lion is considered a divine
animal of nobility and dignity, able to fend off Evil
and protect Truth. It is found guarding the entrances
to palaces, homes, and sacred buildings. Today it extends
its protection to business, restaurants, and banks.
Perhaps, by coincidence long ago, Buddhism and the lion
rode together into China from the west. But, by the synergy
of that coincidence, the lion may have maintained its
high standing and now guards homes and businesses across
continents and cultures.
Thinking of ancient flourishing glory,
I sigh for the changes of our times
But the Iron Lion still stands,
While halls and palaces have turned
to thorns and brambles.
- Ji Ruiqi
Cangzhou Ching Period Poet
