Buddhist Guardian Lion (Shishi)

13th-14th century (Kamakura period (1185–1333))

16.1 cm 31.5 cm 27.5 cm

Citation Source image

The lion symbolizes the historical Buddha Shakyamuni and is regarded as a protector of the Buddhist sacred law. This lion sculpture would have either physically supported a statue of the bodhisattva Monju, or depicted a sacred gem under its paw. Given the size of this lion, it...

Sculpture

id
id
36171
contentType
contentType
sculpture
stage
stage
normalized
provenance
provenance
[From Matsubara, Kyoto temple]; Bunkio Matsuki Sale, American Art Association, New York, 1906; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1906, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
rightsUri
rightsUri
CC0
language
language
en
pageCount
pageCount
11
source
source
import
Source image fields (5)
thumbnailUrl https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PL2_61.182_Fnt_NG_1522.jpg
largeImageUrl https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PL2_61.182_Fnt_NG_1522.jpg
iiifBase https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PL2_61.182_Fnt_NG_1522.jpg
imageCount 11
sourceUrl https://purl.thewalters.org/art/61.182