Chinese Mythological Guardian Figure

All jaw. The rest of the face has receded into the stone.

This mythological guardian figure comes from China and belongs to the Song Dynasty (960 to 1279 CE). It is stone, cut in the blocky manner of a seated beast. Stone guardians of this family were widely placed to protect the approaches to Chinese tombs and sacred sites. An oval muzzle crossed by a single line of mouth dominates a pale, pitted body, with forelegs reduced to two long columns and a rough reddish patch between them. It stands 29.5 inches high.

He is not saying anything. He never planned to.