LEON

The lion with a pearl in its mouth has its origin in the association with the founder of Buddhism, since his family, Sakhia, had this animal as its emblem. Later it would be associated to Buddha by allusion to the animal’s qualities of strength and sovereignty, and from there it would pass to the association with the emperor and the world of immortality. In general they appear in pairs, male and female, flanking temples, palaces and private residences, the male playing with a ball, and the female with her cub (see cat. 38 and 39). This very naturalistic interpretation of the animal, with an attacking position, protects as well as defends the space where it would be located. I.C.F. / Extracted from: Isabel CERVERA FERNÁNDEZ: Fundación Rodríguez-Acosta. Asian Art Collection. Granada, 2002.