gate guardian
Dvarapala from Sanskrit is a door guardian or gate guardian that appears as a warrior or asura giant, often armed with a weapon, most commonly a gadha mace. Guardian lions were often found at temples in Southeast Asia. In Bali a winged lion often served as guardian statue or the pedestal of a wooden column. In China guardian lions or “Foo Dogs” are common. They share symbolism with Staffordshire dogs that originated in 19th-century England often flanking the fireplace in well-off British homes. (Kremer, 2017)
door guardians, guardian lions, guardian statues, sentinel statues, marquee statues, dvarapala