Chinthe

This article is about lions in Burmese culture (not mythical). For mythical or legendary creature with a human head and two lion hindquarters, see Manussiha.
Lion statues surround the Independence Monument in Maha Bandula Park, in front of Yangon City Hall
Two lions guard the entrance to Shwedagon Pagoda[1]

Chinthe[a] (Burmese: ခြင်္သေ့ (IPA: [tɕʰɪ̀ɰ̃ðḛ]); Mon: ဇာဒိသိုၚ် ([cɛ̀atìʔsaŋ]); Shan: သၢင်ႇသီႈ ([sàːŋ si])) is the Burmese word for 'lion'.[2][3] The leograph[4][5] of Chinthe is a highly stylized lion[6][7] commonly depicted in Burmese iconography and architecture, especially as a pair of guardians flanking the entrances of Buddhist pagodas and kyaung (or Buddhist monasteries).

  1. ^ Shwedagon, Symbol of Strength and Serenity. Yangon, Burma: Yangon City Development Committee. 1997. p. 25.
  2. ^ Myanmar-English Official Dictionary. Yangon, Burma: Department of the Myanmar Language Commission. 1993. p. 79.
  3. ^ United States, Congress (1945). Hearings. Washington, USA: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 3.
  4. ^ Archaeological Department of Burma (1902). Report on Archaeological Work in Burma. Yangon, Burma: Superintendent, Government Printing. p. 22.
  5. ^ Session, I.A.H Congress (1996). Proceedings of the 4th Session of Indian Art History Congress. Virginia, USA: University of Virginia. p. 100.
  6. ^ Arts of Asia: Volume 35, Issues 1-2. Virginia, USA: AOA Publications. 2005. p. 111.
  7. ^ Ralph Isaacs, T.Tichard Blurton (2000). Visions from the Golden Land: Burma and the Art of Lacquer. Landon, England: British Museum. p. 169. ISBN 9780714114736.


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