DOGS OF CHINA AND JAPAN 



the snails crawled over his head. Lamaism suggests that the 

 lion had five large curls at the top of its head to simulate the 

 flags worn in the ancient head-dress of high military officials. 

 Buddha said : " Upon the lion's head are five hair-curls. 

 The middle one is a general, and the others like unto his 

 four flags. The nine hair-curls below are their support." 



On referring to Egyptian mythology, we find that the two 

 lion-gods wore a special feather head-dress. Assyrian models, 

 not later than the seventh century B.C., show a sheath-like 

 head-dress which possibly began to be represented as curled 

 at about the same time that the Buddhists, who originally 

 represented Buddha with free-falling, waved hair, began to 

 ascribe to their deity, as one of his superior marks, short and 

 curly hair. 



Tufts of hair on the legs of Chinese lion-statues have been 

 mentioned. The well-developed fringes on the legs of 

 " Pekingese " dogs are comparable to them. The Assyrian 

 lions were shaved when domesticated. Of the mane, only a 

 frill or collar was left round the face ; on the body some 

 tufts and bands of hair were left on the back, along the 

 flanks, and behind the thighs. The tuft was left at the end 

 of the tail * 



* " The Book of the Lion," Sir A. Pease. 



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