DOGS OF CHINA AND JAPAN 



Chinese Buddhism * represents Wenshu Buddha, the God 

 of Learning (the Tibetan Manjusri), as riding upon a lion, 

 in company with Kuan-yin, Goddess of Mercy, riding upon 

 a hou, and Pu-hsien upon an elephant, pacifying the warring 

 demons of the earth at the beginning of history. Trans- 

 ference of the attributes of one divinity to a supporter is 

 illustrated by the fact that the Buddhists accord to the lion 

 greater wisdom than to any other of the lower creation. Its 

 sagacity is likened to the learning of its master, Wenshu. 



The harness with which all Lamaist lions are adorned 

 assists in symbolizing the servitude of the lion to Buddha. 



The lion was to some extent used in the sense of being the 

 champion of Buddhism, also as a defender of Buddha and 

 of the faithful ; for Buddhists often burn two lions made of 

 fir twigs at the funeral of important officials, with the object 

 of expressing a hope that the guardians of Buddhism may 

 protect the deceased in the life to come. 



A further use of the simile of lion-subjugation occurs in 

 the Lamaist writings : 



" Buddha released the wild beasts of a certain mountain 

 from the depredations of the lion by causing them to read 

 his Bible. The lion, finding that he no longer hungered for 

 their flesh and that they lived in no fear of him, discovered 

 the secret of the miracle from the fox. The lion then asked 

 Buddha for instruction, and as a result his temperament was 

 changed to active benevolence. By this means it is proved 

 that the power of Buddha's Bible in leading to do good is 

 without limit. The lion crouches before the seat of Buddha 

 to eternity. Two lions sit before his seat, and eight lions 

 around it." 'i 



* Fung Shen Pang, " Popular Book of Superstitions " (recent, but universally 

 known in China.) 

 f Cha Pu Lao P'an Yuan Bible. 



