Stone lions, a common item in Chinese traditional culture, are sculptures of lions carved from stone, holding artistic and ornamental value. The earliest stone lion is the one in front of the tomb of Gao Yi during the Eastern Han Dynasty. It is a type of decorative element frequently used in traditional Chinese architecture, and can be seen on palaces, temples, pagodas, bridges, gardens, tombs, and even seals in China. However, more often, stone lions refer to a pair placed on either side of the main gate. Their design is not what we see today's lions, possibly because most Chinese people have never seen real lions in the grasslands, or it could be due to the difference in posture between Western lions and the stone lions.