Snow Lion

Introduction

The Snow Lions are a vibrant and youthful animal with a cheerful mind and a pure white fur. In Buddhism, they are regarded as protectors of Buddhas. In sculptures and paintings, they are depicted supporting the thrones held by various Buddhist deities, which are believed to represent the strength and courage of Buddhas.

The Snow Lion is regarded as the emblem of Tibet. It can be seen as a symbol of the region’s snowy mountains and glaciers, and it can also represent the strength, courage, and joy of Tibetans. It’s commonly depicted as a white lion with a turquoise mane, and in 1592, it was featured as a Yokai in the book Journey to the West.

Physical Traits

The Snow Lion’s body is white, and its flowing mane and tail are either green or blue. In Buddhist art, this animal is gender neutral, with some Snow Lions being depicted as obviously female and some as obviously male. When these are symmetrical pairs, the male is on the right and the female on the left. Sculptural snow lions are usually painted and mounted on a metal panel.

The Snow Lion resides in the East and represents unconditional cheerfulness, a mind free of doubt, clear and precise. It has a beauty and dignity resulting from a body and mind that are synchronized. The Snow Lion has a youthful, vibrant energy of goodness and a natural sense of delight

Family

In Indian art, the lion is regarded as the king of all animals. In Tibetan art, the Snow Lion is depicted as a symbol of protection and sovereignty. During the early days of Buddhism, the lion was adopted as a symbol of Shakyuni Buddha. In early paintings, the Buddha is seated on a throne with eight snow lions supporting him.

In sculptures and paintings, the Snow Lion is often depicted guarding the throne of Buddha. It is believed that this animal represents the Buddha’s strength and courage. It is also depicted as a symbol of the vehicle for various other Tibetan deities, such as Ganapati, Manjushri, Tashi Tserigma, Padmavatha, and Shivashri.

Other names

The Snow Lion is also known as Gang Seng Ge, Xhiu Shi or Rui Shi.

Powers and Abilities

According to Tibetan folklore, the milk of a Snow Lion is believed to contain nutrients that can help improve the body’s harmony. It is also used to represent the purity of the Dharma. Although the Snow Lion doesn’t fly, it can still produce magical milk from its paw. It can also help heal the body and improve one’s harmony.

In addition, its essence can be used in various medicinal remedies. The roar of the lion is said to represent the sound of courage and truth, which is a type of Tibetan expression that refers to the Buddha’s teachings about freedom from karma. It was believed that a single roar from the Snow Lion could send seven dragons falling from the sky.

Modern Day Influence

Some dogs, such as the Tibetan Terrier, the Shih Tzu, and the Lhasa Apso, are known as Lion Dogs due to their appearance. It’s not clear if these animals were bred to look like the Snow Lion, or if the artistic renderings of this animal were influenced by their features.

It’s believed that the Snow Lion can be seen in the highest mountains because it’s the king of beasts and can tower over other animals that live in the lower levels. It can also be depicted as the image of a Tibetan yogi or a Hermit. From 1909 to 1959, a single or a pair of snow lions was used as the country’s national emblem. In 1912, the 13th Dalai Lama issued a new flag that featured two Snow Lions. It was originally based on military banners. The flag is still used by the government of Tibet in exile and banned by China.