SYMBOLISM BUDDHIST AND LAMAIST LION 



Another link in the evidence connecting the lion with sun- 

 and fire-worship exists in the belief, current during the 

 mediaeval period, that the lion was associated with fire and 

 smoke. Consequently, a very large number of incense- 

 burners fashioned in the shape of lions can be assigned to this 

 period. These burners were usually hollow, the smoke being 

 caused to issue from the lion's jaws. 



Among the early mediaeval Christians the lion sometimes 

 was used to represent Christ Himself. The Buddhists 

 actually borrowed from the lion and gave to Buddha certain 

 leonine physical characteristics. Conversely, their spirit-lions 

 in monuments were endowed with certain remarkable non- 

 leonine characteristics which were derived from representa- 

 tions of Buddha himself. Among these may be noted 

 absence of the outward evidences of sex, domed head, curly 

 tufts of hair on the head, and a long tongue. 



Among the thirty-two superior marks which distinguished 

 Buddha from others of the human race were : 



(4) Between the eyebrows a little ball shining like silver 

 or snow. 



(12) The tongue large and long. 



(13) The jaws those of a lion. 



(17) The skin having a tinge of gold colour. 



(19) The upper part of the body that of a Hon.* 



It is not surprising that in breeding dogs to resemble the 

 Lamaist lion as closely as possible, Chinese breeders have 

 encouraged the development of physical characteristics which 

 in Buddhist lore in some cases were common both to the 

 lion and to Buddha himself. 



The Lamaists were so much at a loss to explain their lion's 

 twisted curls that they invented a legend, now current, that 

 Buddha remained so long in motionless contemplation that 



* " Buddhist Art in India," V. Burgess. 



121 



