Mythological lion-dogs such as these are ubiquitous in Asian art, found in cemeteries, temples, shops, and domiciles and utilized traditionally as Buddhist guardian effigies to ward off demon spirits. Fabricated of materials such as stone, wood, ivory, and terra-cotta, they appear with variations of fringed manes, long hairy ears, spiraling tails, ornamental eyebrows, curved hams, broad square muzzles, enormous globular eyes, and upcurled wide mouths that suggest laughter rather than ferocious snarls. Often they are shown with playful cubs and brocaded balls representing sun spheres. Their image combines features of Pekingese pug dogs (known commonly as hsiao kou, small dogs) and long-haired lion dogs (shih-tzu kou).