Chinthe

E93915

The Chinthe is a mythical lion-like creature in Burmese and Southeast Asian culture, commonly seen as a guardian statue flanking the entrances of temples and pagodas.


Statements (83)
Predicate Object
instanceOf cultural symbol
guardian figure
mythical creature
appearsIn Burmese Buddhist art
Burmese folklore
Burmese legends
Southeast Asian temple architecture
temple architecture in Myanmar
hasCulturalContext Bamar
surface form: "Bamar culture"

Burmese culture
Mon culture
Myanmar
Shan people
surface form: "Shan culture"

Southeast Asia
hasFunction mark sacred boundaries
protect sacred spaces
symbolize vigilance
ward off evil spirits
hasGenderVariation female depictions
male depictions
hasNotableExampleAt Ananda Temple
Bagan temples
Mandalay Hill
surface form: "Mandalay Hill temples"

Shwedagon Pagoda
Sule Pagoda
numerous pagodas across Myanmar
hasOtherName Chinthay
Chinthay (alternative transliteration)
Chinthé
Chinthé (French transliteration)
hasRole guardian of city gates
guardian of monasteries
guardian of pagodas
guardian of temples
guardian of the Buddha’s teachings
protector against evil
hasSimilarMythicalCreature Chinese guardian lion
Khmer lion guardian
Nara lion-dog
Singha
Thai temple lion
hasSymbolicMeaning courage
guardianship
loyalty
protection
royalty
strength
influencedBy Buddhist protective deities
Indian lion symbolism
regional animist beliefs
isAssociatedWithReligion Buddhism
Theravada
surface form: "Theravada Buddhism"
isMadeOf brick
concrete
metal
stone
stucco
wood
isRelatedTo guardian lions of East Asia
mythical lions of South Asia
isTypicallyDepictedAs flanking an entrance
lion-like creature
mythical lion
paired statues
seated guardian
stylized lion
with bulging eyes
with decorative body patterns
with exaggerated claws
with open mouth
with ornate mane
isTypicallyLocatedAt Buddhist religious sites
city gates in Myanmar
entrances of pagodas
entrances of temples
monastery entrances
stairways to shrines
isUsedIn architectural ornamentation
decorative arts in Myanmar
relief carvings
religious iconography
sculpture
temple stairway balustrades

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

this entity surface form: "Chinthe (mythical Burmese lion)"
Chindits namedAfter Chinthe

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