The Formal Gardens of Parliament House are guarded by two traditional guardian lion sculptures, (Shíshī) gifted from the People’s Republic of China in 1988 to commemorate the opening of Parliament House.
Carved out of white Han marble, the male and female lions face one another at the entrance of the Formal Gardens. In Chinese culture guardian lions protect buildings from harmful spiritual influences. The male lion has his hand on an embroidered ball, representing the material world, and the female lion her hand on a lion cub, representing nature and the cycle of life.1
The lions are positioned according to Chinese tradition, with the male lion on the right and the female on the left as the viewer passes through the entryway.
The lions have been on display in the Formal Gardens since being gifted.
References
1. University of Pennsylvania, Guardion Lion: Male and Female, 2003. Accessed via: https://pennds.org/arth503640/items/show/23.
Unknown artist,
The Guardian Lion - Male, c.1987
carved white Han marble,
Official Gifts Collection,
Parliament House Art Collection
Unknown artist,
The Guardian Lion - Female, c.1987
carved white Han marble,
Official Gifts Collection,
Parliament House Art Collection