About Us - Two Lions Tea

We are a small business delivering quality tea, our leaves are sourced in California, USA. Immerse yourself in the rich aroma of handcrafted blends.

Please stick around as we have plans to offer more soon, hopefully at a physical location.

What does “Two Lions Tea” represent?

Our logo and name represent the Chinese guardian lions, usually called stone lions or “Shi-Shi” in China and often times called a foo dog in the West. Foo dogs are symbolic sculptures of the Asiatic stylized lion. They come in pairs, usually one male and one female to represent the flow of yin-yang energy. They are placed at the entrance of an important building to guard the grounds and bring prosperity and wealth. They have been part of the history of China and southeast Asia for thousands of years. As with much of Asian culture, these ancient guardian lions are complex and multifaceted expressions of symbolic Chinese traditions. You can find foo dogs in Japan, Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka, etc.

Mythological Tradition of the Foo Dog

The lion is one of the divine beasts of Chinese mythology, with the ability to drive off evil spirits. According to Chinese lore, stone lions are able to cleanse shar chi, or “poison arrows,” the negative force emanating from sharp corners, sickness, imposed authority, busy crowds and jarring structures such as lamp posts, obelisks and traffic lights.

This ability to drive away negative spirits and energy explains the original placement of these statues at the entrance to Buddhist temples. From there the practice spread to palaces, important residences and mausoleums. Guardian lions are blessed with perception, the ability to discern good and bad intentions. They are prized as loyal but fierce guardians in the spirit world.

The stone lion can repress the impulse to thievery, minimize accidents and confuse those with bad intentions to bring luck and money, balancing Feng Shui harmony. These traits make them prized additions for businesses to promote prosperity. A pair of lions is often seen guarding hotels, restaurants, banks and factories, where their job is to drive away mischief and attract satisfied customers or workers into the business.

The stone lion is full of symbolism. The female guardian rests her paw on a playful cub on its back, illustrating the “yin”, or inward power. She expresses nurturing strength, compassion, loving care, counsel, teaching and feminine healing. She is protecting those inside the building, representing the inner spirit or soul within. She is frequently shown with her mouth closed, depicting the “m” sound of the “om”, or the inward breath of creation.

The male lion rests its paw on the embroidered sphere of imperial influence, illustrating the “yang”, which represents outward spirit and dominion over the physical world, the male will to power, strength, ferocity and aggressive courage. He is usually depicted with his mouth open to repel bad luck with his spiritual roar and the outward breath, expressing the “o” sound of the sacred syllable “om”. He fiercely protects the building and its grounds.