Guardian Lion of Route 66

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Two identical sculptures, known as Foo Dogs or Shisa, appeared in the Mojave Desert in September 2013, just off Route 66 near Amboy, California. Nobody knows who placed them or what their purpose was. A Facebook page has been set up to research these lions, but no conclusion has been reached yet. Chinese guardian lions date back over 2,000 years and are a common representation of the lion in imperial China. This concept originated from Chinese Buddhism and spread to other parts of Asia, including Japan, Korea, Tibet, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia, and Laos. The introduction of lion symbolism from Indian culture through Buddhist symbolism led to guardian lions being traditionally placed in front of Chinese Imperial palaces, tombs, government offices, temples, and the homes of officials and wealthy individuals since the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). They were believed to have powerful mythic protective benefits. Guardian lion statues are also used in other artistic contexts, such as door-knockers and pottery. Pairs of guardian lion statues remain a common decorative element at entrances to restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and other structures in China and around the world where Chinese people have immigrated and settled, especially in local Chinatowns. When depicted in pairs, one lion usually sits on each side of the entrance, with a male leaning his paw on an embroidered ball (representing supremacy over the world) and a female restraining a playful cub that is on its back (representing nurture).