That said, these lions are literally the “Chinese prosperity lions”. The word “ Fu” means “ blessing” in Chinese. We can correlate this to the symbol of Jesus being the cross in the Western culture. These lions, sometimes even represented as dogs, are the Historical Buddha himself – Siddhartha Gotama. The Lions of Fu are two statues that we can see in some traditional Chinese buildings, such as the Forbidden City of Beijing. It may be time to defend something that is dear to your heart – defend it fiercely if you must.Perhaps it’s time to show your authority (not in a dominating way) but lead others with a loving heart.

Stand tall, remember your birthright of power.Hold your head high – even in times of conflict – conduct yourself with dignity.Griffins had a lion’s body with the head and the wings of an eagle and were used as well as guardian symbols. In ancient China, it was believed that lions protected from evil spirits.Īnother mythological creature inspired by the lion was the griffin. “Lion” was also adopted as the nickname by numerous medieval rulers who had a reputation of great warriors, such as Henry the Lion.īeing this symbol of strength, bravery, dignity, majesty and royalty, lions took in many cultures the role of the guardian, next to animals with similar traits such as bears and wolves. They go well combined with other beautiful and grandiose symbols such as the rose, adding the meaning of devotion and passion.įor men the lion tattoo is common, whereas women usually get a tattoo of a lioness. That said, they have been a popular symbol of royalty and stateliness, as well as a symbol of bravery, similarly to dragons. The positive portrayal has usually focused on the lion being a strong but a noble beast.Ĭommonly referred to as the “king of jungle” or “king of beasts” (except in the Asia, where the tiger holds that title or in Native American culture where it’s the eagle).

Nonetheless, the meanings it has in mythology, heraldry and pop culture has always been positive across various cultures. Unlike wolves, lions are actually known for attacks on humans. The lion has been widely used in paintings, sculptures, literature, on national flags, and in present-day films and literature. Usually this powerful animal is depicted with the male lion head surrounded by a mighty mane. The lion is an overwhelmingly positive symbol in many cultures around the world and subsequently in animal tattoos.

Queen goddess lioness tattoo