Recumbent Lion-Dog
Culture
Chinese
Datelate 20th century
Mediumnephrite
Dimensions22.2 x 14 cm (8 3/4 x 5 1/2 in.)
ClassificationsJades
Credit LineGift of John and Maria Dirlam
Terms
Object number1999.439
Label Text2006-03-04: Recumbent Lion-Dog Nephrite; 20th century
Gift of Maria and John Dirlam, 1999.439
Lion-dogs are thought to be a combination of the regal lion of early Indian culture and the celestial dogs of ancient Chinese mythology. Sacred to Buddhism and known in the West as fo (Buddha) dogs, sculptures of paired male and female lion-dogs were placed as guardians outside Chinese Buddhist temples and halls. As Buddhism flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties, lion-dogs became a favorite artistic subject and decorative motif.
On View
Not on view
Chinese
18th century, Qing Dynasty (1644–1911)