Okay.. help me out with this one:You are not supposed to give a knife as a present to someone else right, according to Chinese believe? Then when such a thing happends and the receiver symbolically gives some change in return, then everything is cool, right?What about Buddha's? You can't buy one for yourself? Should it always be a present given to you? What about the position in your house.. I heard the Buddha shouldn't look down on you nor should you look down on it... Can anyone help me out what is custom in Thailand?

I know something about those stone Chinese lions.. They should watch your doorstep.. Like protectors of your house.. There are female and male ones.. How to distinguish them? Are there more examples of habits or similar interesting pieces of information? Just curious....Have a great week

This sounds like something from Feng Shui, which is all about placement of mirrors, good luck charms, and such, to bring good fortune to your house.

I'd recommend checking out a Feng Shui site. It really has nothing to do with Buddhist beliefs. In fact, the only thing I can think of relating to statues in Buddhism is that you shouldn't point your feet directly at a Buddha statue, out of a sign of respect.

Nicky>thanks, about buying a Buddha is cleared up now...

Ben>no, I wasn't specially refering to Feng Shui.. thanks for the remark though! I know that it's impolite to point your feet towards a Buddha statue.. thank you for your comment!

To my humble knowledge it does not matter if the Buddha looks down on you (Anyone knowing better please corret me if I'm wrong) but you should take care that nobodys feet are pointing towards the statue, so e.g. never place it besides the TV in your bedroom.

How come they have lion statues in Asia? I mean lions aren't exactly native to Asia, are they?

Hobbes> good question! .... Anyone?

Lion is also animal Symbolism as well as dragon in chinese culture ...all is meaning in power, majesty and courage, capable of warding off evil spirits..if u''ve ever seen chinese new year celebration something like that

Ben> thank you! of course... we all know these celebrations..

I found there is actually an Asiatic lion! Never knew that! -->

Panthera leo Persica, known as the Asiatic- or South Asian, Persian or Indian lion, was once widespread from Turkey, across the Middle East, to Pakistan, India and even Bangladesh. However, large prides and daylight activity made it easier to poach than tigers or leopards; now around 300 exist in and near the Gir Forest of India.[19; ^ a b Wildlife Conservation Trust of India (2006). Asiatic Lion - History. Asiatic Lion Information Centre. Wildlife Conservation Trust of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-15. ] >wikipedia<

Singh is an ancient Indian vedic name meaning "Lion" (Asiatic Lion), dating back over 2000 years to ancient India. It was originally only used by Rajputs a Hindu Kshatriya or military caste in India. After the birth of the Khalsa brotherhood in 1699, the Sikhs also adopted the name "Singh" due to the wishes of Guru Gobind Singh. Along with millions of Hindu Rajputs today, it is also used by over 20 million Sikhs worldwide.[155][156]

Found famously on numerous Flags and Coat of Arms all across Asia and Europe, the Asiatic Lions also stand firm on the National Emblem of India.[157].

Further south on the Indian subcontinent, the Asiatic lion is symbolic for the Sinhalese,[158] Sri Lanka's ethnic majority; the term derived from the Indo-Aryan Sinhala, meaning the "lion people" or "people with lion blood", while a sword wielding lion is the central figure on the national flag of Sri Lanka.[159]

The Asiatic Lion is a common motif in Chinese art. They were first used in art during the late Spring and Autumn Period (5th or 6th century BC), and became much more popular during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), when imperial guardian lions started to be placed in front of imperial palaces for protection. Because lions have never been native to China, early depictions were somewhat unrealistic; after the introduction of Buddhist art to China in the Tang Dynasty (after the 6th century AD), lions were usually depicted without wings, their bodies became thicker and shorter, and their manes became curly.[160] The lion dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume, often with musical accompaniment from cymbals, drums and gongs. They are performed at Chinese New Year, the August Moon Festival and other celebratory occasions for good luck.[161]

The island nation of Singapore (Singapura) derives its name from the Malay words singa (lion) and pura (city), which in turn is from the Tamil-Sanskrit, singa, siha and pura, which is cognate to the Greek polis.[162] According to the Malay Annals, this name was given by a 14th century Sumatran Malay prince named Sang Nila Utama, who, on alighting the island after a thunderstorm, spotted an auspicious beast on shore that his chief minister identified as a lion (Asiatic Lion).[163] Recent studies of Singapore indicate that lions have never lived there, and the beast seen by Sang Nila Utama was more likely to have been a tiger.

but... what about my question about how to distinguish the stone lions in female and male?

lol joeri too long i and history is not going together as well maybe some one can give u right answer na

Yuri, cheers for putting the work and time in to answer this question as to how they knew of Lions in SE Asia. Learned something again. 8-)

Ben>thanks anyway for your support

Nicky>thanks for the great info!

Hobbes>no problem!

Lillydilly>wow... that's what I needed! Good explanation..

For the dog: your pic had expired... I looked at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shih_Tzu.... My gf has such a dog!!!!

the second picture is great... and I understand the similarity now! Thank you!!

Nicky> really... I always see your dogs in your journals... only recall the golden retriever... (perhaps, because I like golden retrievers (and labradors) so much)... I'll have a look at your old journals.. yep.....yours are a mop! lol