  
  About the Artwork
  
  
  This lion, with its flattened ears, protruding eyes, and flaring nostrils, was created by casting liquid iron in a mold&acirc;&#128;&#148;an extraordinary technological feat. Originally, it carried a monumental sculpture of the bodhisattva Wenshu (Manjushri) on its back. Lions are associated with the spread and protection of Buddhist teachings. This one likely stood outside a temple.
  
  
  Title
  Lion's Head
  
  
  Artwork Date
  between 1000 and 1127
  
  Artist
  ----------
  
  
  
  Life Dates
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  Nationality
  
  
  
  Please note:
  Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events.
  Some definitions include:
  Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation.
  
  
  
  Chinese
  
  
  
  Culture
  
  
  
  Please note:
  Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group.
  
  
  
  
  ----------
  
  
  Medium
  Cast iron
  
  
  Dimensions
  Overall: 27 1/2 &Atilde;&#151; 21 &Atilde;&#151; 29 inches, 344 pounds (69.9 &Atilde;&#151; 53.3 &Atilde;&#151; 73.7 cm, 156 kg)
  
  
  Classification
  Sculpture
  
  
  Department
  Asian Art
  
  
  Credit
  Founders Society Purchase, Edsel B. Ford Fund
  
  
  
  Accession Number
  
  
  
  This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection.
  Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum&acirc;&#128;&#153;s holdings.
  For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems&acirc;&#128;&#148;no longer assigned&acirc;&#128;&#148;that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups.
  
  
  
  31.281
  
  
  Copyright
  Public Domain
  
  
  
