The stone lion statue in front of Datsan Gunzechounei in St. Petersburg, Russia

The stone lion statue in front of Datsan Gunzechounei in St. Petersburg, Russia

Datsan Gunzechounei is a large Buddhist temple in St. Petersburg, Russia, and also the northernmost Buddhist temple in Russia. The Chinese guardian lion in front of this temple is an important decorative and symbolic element. In Chinese culture, these stone lions are usually placed in front of important buildings such as palaces, official residences, temples, and cemeteries to symbolize power and status, and to protect buildings from evil and negative energy.