Bai Yun Style

A few lion makers in Hong Kong were so popular that their signature styles of lions have been replicated and preserved even after the original companies no longer exist. Bai Yun style lions are one such example. Look for a less prominent forehead, eyes set wide, and lots of fins for ball attachment.

Note: Your custom work needs and deserves consultation with Of Course Lion Source prior to ordering.

Luo An Style

Another Fo Shan style lion from a Hong Kong lion maker of the past. For lovers of this style—it’s all in the eyes. A large forehead, very ornate double layer gills with 3D spheres, an enormous horn and many fins for ball attachment also distinguish the Luo An style lion.

Note: Your custom work needs and deserves consultation with Of Course Lion Source prior to ordering.

Traditional Fo Shan Style

The traditional Fo Shan style lion has often been described as the largest and most ornate of the Fo Shan style lions. The forehead is huge and bulbous. There are a greater number of fins above the eyes and on the gills for more ball attachment. The gills may be very decorative too, some having spheres, double layers, animal shapes, etc. The back is erect and the upper lip area is curved.

Note: Your custom work needs and deserves consultation with Of Course Lion Source prior to ordering.

Hong Kong Style

The Hong Kong style Fo Shan lion is a more streamlined version of its traditional Fo Shan cousin. The eyes can be similar to the He Shan style lion in that they can be drawn backwards at the outer corners. The upper portion of the eye sockets flare up dramatically. The gills are usually rounded, and the lion may or may not have fins for ball attachment.

Note: Your custom work needs and deserves consultation with Of Course Lion Source prior to ordering.

Malaysian Style

The Malaysian interpretation of the Fo Shan lion has a distinctive tip on its bamboo shoot horn. This kind of lion is made without added wire sculpture and ornamentation to keep weight to a minimum. That means the forehead is less prominent, there are no fins, and the gills are round. The areas to the left and right of the horn may be left flat or feature one of the less ornate styles of ornamentation. Chances are, the number of balls will be kept to a minimum (2–4) as well.

The left photo was taken before the decoration stage had begun in order to clearly show the contours of this particular style.

Note: Your custom work needs and deserves consultation with Of Course Lion Source prior to ordering.

Custom Fo / He Lion

Take the best characteristics of the Fo Shan and He Shan lions. Mix them together, and what have you got? A hybrid lion that skyrocketed in popularity after its debut. The Fo / He style features the fist horn and drawn back eyes of a He Shan lion; it also has the curved upper lip of a Fo Shan lion.

Note: Your custom work needs and deserves consultation with Of Course Lion Source prior to ordering.

Traditional Style (Duck Bill)

Traditional He Shan lions have mouth areas that extend forward. So far forward that they earned the nickname “duck bill” lions. He Shan lions have eye sockets that flare up and are drawn back. Their backs are rounded and they normally possess the rounded fist horns.

Note: Your custom work needs and deserves consultation with Of Course Lion Source prior to ordering.

Modern Style

The contemporary or modern style He Shan lion differs (from the traditional styles of He Shan lions) mainly in the shorter extension of the mouth area.

Note: Your custom work needs and deserves consultation with Of Course Lion Source prior to ordering.