Guardian lion at the National Palace Museum in Taipei. Chinese guardian lions or Imperial guardian lion, traditionally known in Chinese simply as Shi (Chinese: 獅; pinyin: shī; literally:  lion ), and often called Foo Dogs in the West, are a common representation of the lion in pre-modern China.uardian lion at the National Palace Museum in Taipei. Chinese guardian lions or Imperial guardian lion, traditionally known in Chinese simply as Shi (Chinese: 獅; pinyin: shī; literally:  lion ), and often called Foo Dogs in the West, are a common representation of the lion in pre-modern China.