The Snow Lion (sometimes spelled snowlion ; Tibetan : གངས་སེང་གེ་ , Wylie : gangs seng ge ; Chinese : 雪獅 ) is a celestial animal of Tibet . It is the emblem of Tibet, representing the snowy mountain ranges and glaciers of Tibet, and may also symbolize power and strength, and fearlessness and joy, east and the earth element. It is one of the Four Dignities . It ranges over the mountains, and is commonly pictured as being white with a turquoise mane. In Journey to the West published in 1592, Snow Lion is depicted as one of monster-spirits .
15-613: From 1909 until 1959, a single snow lion or a pair of them was used as the national emblem of Tibet on coins, postage stamps, banknotes and the national flag of Tibet. The version shown on right with two Snow Lions was introduced by the 13th Dalai Lama in 1912 based on old military banners, and is still used by the Government of Tibet in Exile . The flag is popularly known as the Snow Lion Flag ( gangs seng dar cha ). Snow lion
30-532: A man seeking to buy the Dharma from him with expensive gifts: "I, the snow lioness who stays in snowy solitudes, Have milk which is like the essential nectar. In the absence of golden cups, I would not pour it in an ordinary vessel." Legend has it that the lioness produces milk from its paws, and the milk may pass into hollow balls given to the lioness to play with. This ball may be represented in Tibetan art as
45-558: A snow lion." In Tibetan lore, two Tibetan culture heroes , Gesar and Milarepa , were said to have been raised by snow lioness. The milk of the Snow Lioness (Tibetan: Gangs Sengemo) is reputed to contain special nutrients to heal the body and restore it to harmony. Some holy medicinal remedies are believed to contain the essence of Snow Lioness milk. Her milk is also used to symbolise the Dharma and its purity, as Milarepa replies to
60-663: A symbol of the Tibetan independence movement and is thus banned in the People's Republic of China , including the Tibet Autonomous Region , which corresponds to the former area of control of the Tibetan government at Lhasa, as well as other areas in greater Tibet. The emblem is often seen printed in black-and-white and crimson -and-white variants, which is characteristic of the colors commonly seen in Buddhist iconography and dress. This Tibet -related article
75-468: A three-coloured "wheel of joy" ( dga' 'khyil ). A form of lion dance found in the Tibetan areas is called the snow lion dance or Senggeh Garcham . The name seng ge and its related forms come from Sanskrit siṅha , and cham or garcham is a Buddhist ritual dance. The snow lion dance may be performed as a secular dance, or as a ritual dance performed by bon po monks. This dance may also be found among people in other Himalayan regions such as
90-531: Is either blue or green. While most Snow Lions are gender neutral in Buddhist art there are some that are represented as obviously male and some as obviously female. When represented as a symmetrical pair the male is on the left and the female on the right. Sculptural Snow Lions are often in repousse metal that has been gilt and painted. The Snow Lion is a tulku or personification of the primordial playfulness of ananda "joy, bliss" ( Wylie : dga' ), comparable to
105-404: Is frequently mentioned in Tibetan folk songs and proverbs. It is thought to live in the highest mountains as it is the "king of beasts" that would tower over other animals of the lower levels. Snow lions may also represent hermits and yogis who live high up in the mountains. Marpa was called to interpret the meaning when, "Tibet's great yogin, Milarepa , once had a prophetic dream which included
120-704: The Monpa people in Arunachal Pradesh , and in Sikkim where it is called Singhi Chham . The lion was adopted as a symbol of Shakyamuni Buddha in early Buddhism; it is also depicted as a vehicle for a number of Vajrayana deities such as Vaishravana and Manjushri , and the lion throne may be found in many nirmanakaya Buddha forms. The lion in India art is represented in Tibetan Buddhist art as
135-580: The Snow Lion. The Snow Lion is the protector of Buddha and in paintings and sculpture is usually seen as holding up the Buddha's throne (one on the left and one on the right of the throne.) The throne of a Buddha may also be depicted with eight Snow Lions representing the 8 main Bodhisattvas of Buddha Shakyamuni. The body of the Snow Lion is white while its flowing hair of mane, tail and curls on legs,
150-461: The challenging call to awakening . It was considered to be so powerful that just a single roar could cause seven dragons to fall from the sky. The Shih Tzu , Lhasa Apso and Tibetan Terrier are also called the Lion Dog which may be due to their resemblance to the Snow Lion. However it is unknown whether the dogs were bred to resemble the Snow Lion or if the artistic depiction of the Snow Lion
165-654: The doctrinal trinities of Dzogchen and is the energetic signature of the trikaya . The gankyil is the inner wheel of the Dharmacakra of the Ashtamangala path of Vajrayana Buddhism . The roar of the Snow Lion embodies the sound of 'emptiness' (Sanskrit: Śūnyatā ), courage and truth, and because of this is often a synonym for the Buddhadharma , the Buddha’s teachings, as it implies freedom from karma and
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#1732783946024180-682: The slopes of the mountains stand a pair of snow lions . Held between the two lions is the eight-spoked Dharmacakra , represent the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism . Inside the wheel, the three-colored swirling jewel represents the practices of the ten exalted virtues and the 16 humane modes of conduct . The inscription on the swirling banner below is as follows: bod gzhung dga' ldan pho brang phyogs las rnam rgyal ("Tibetan Government, Ganden Palace , victorious in all directions".) The Ganden Palace, located in Drepung monastery
195-449: The western unicorn . Though paradoxical, the Snow Lion does not fly but their feet never touch the ground; their existence is a playful continuum ( Wylie : rgyud ) of leaping from mountain peak to mountain peak. The energetic potency (wisdom or shakti ) of the Snow Lion is expressed in the attribute of the gankyil or "ananda-wheel" the Snow Lion keep in eternal play. The gankyil is the principal polyvalent symbol and teaching tool of all
210-595: Was influenced by the features of the dogs. Emblem of Tibet The Emblem of Tibet is a symbol of the Tibetan government in exile . It combines several elements of the flag of Tibet , with slightly different artistry, and contains many Buddhist symbols . Its primary elements are the sun and moon above the Himalayas , which represent Tibet , often known as the Land Surrounded by Snow Mountains . On
225-736: Was the residence of the Dalai Lamas until the 5th Dalai Lama. After the 5th Dalai Lama had moved to the Potala in the mid 17th century the Tibetan Government created by him in 1642 became known as the " Ganden Phodrang " Government. It is the official emblem of the Central Tibetan Administration government-in-exile headquartered in Dharamsala , India . Along with their flag, the emblem is considered
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