Chinese Guardian Lions At The Entrance To Dragon Park In The Oak Lawn Neighborhood In Dallas, Texas. Stock Photo

Pictured are Chinese guardian Lions at the entrance to Dragon Park in the Oak Lawn neighborhood in Dallas, Texas. The lions are a traditional Chinese architectural ornament. Typically made of stone, they are also known as stone lions, shishi, lion dogs or foo dogs. The concept, which originated and became popular in Chinese Buddhism, features a pair of highly stylized lions—one male with a ball and one female with a cub—which were thought to protect the building from harmful spiritual influences and harmful people that might be a threat.