LION AND CUB

Sculptures of lions have a long history in Chinese art. Although known since early Han dynasty, figures of lions in lapidary art developed with the spread of Buddhism, when they began to be placed at the entrance of temples and important halls to ensure the protection of those who entered. Since the Tang dynasty onwards they were shown in pairs, the male with its paw over a sphere while the female with a cub, and only during the Ming and Qing dynasty depictions of playful lions began to acquire

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