As might be expected, over hundreds of years of political and military domination, Imperial China had a profound impact on the cultures of surrounding civilizations from the central steppes of Asia to the eastern coast and the Southeast.
In addition, generations of Chinese people emigrating around the globe have brought their traditions along. The guardian lion is one of those traditions, often seen in the “Chinatown” areas of prominent American cities and in the other countries they made their new lives in.
China’s neighboring cultures have adopted or been influenced by many Chinese traditions. In Japan these guardian lions are named komainu, meaning “lion dogs.” The Japanese have a slightly different view of ki or chi and Buddhist principles of harmony than the Chinese. In that tradition, the male lion breathes inward to create life. The female breathes outward to represent female suffering and death.
Because of their original purpose in front of Buddhist temples, the lions spread to other temples in the region, including Tibet, Burma, Korea, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. Each culture has its own name for the stone lion.
With a rich, varied and ancient past, the Chinese lion keeps its traditional meanings and cultural importance intact. As decorative statuary, prized artwork or spiritual intercessor, they’ve traveled through time to the present age. Even in the 21st century they faithfully perform the solemn duty for which they were originally created.
This rug article about the Chinese Foo Dog motif was published by Nazmiyal Antique Rugs