Outside the wall on east side near Khong arch placed a pair of lion statues. This wall originally was external wall of palace in the reign of Phrajao Artittayaraj. They were the statue of fully-clothed lions opening their mouth and having long tongues. They were plastered with red paints and some parts were covered with gold and decorated with stained glass. Lanna people called it as “Redemption Lions”. Making lions statues as the protector of this religious place, according to belief of ancient India, was involved in the Srisakayamunee dynasty of the Buddha with lions as the emblem. So, lion was used to decorate Buddhism arts in almost every part such as the mast top of King Asoke, the Great, and the foundation of Buddha image referred to as “Sing Foundation” or supporting the Satupa. Lions statues were also used to guard the temple like the doorkeeper. It influenced Lanna people for two centuries and there were many stories about lions in front of Wat Phitsadan different from legends of India or Siam. In front of Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai Woramahavihan before constructing “Khuamung” or the bridge with roof across Guang River (old Ping) to the side of Wiangyong in 2002 with its original name as “KuaThasing” named after the statues of “Redemption lion”, it’s noticeable that this pair of lions stood in 4 legs which was different from other redemption lion statues generally found in Lanna Kingdom in the period influenced by Myanmar that sitting lions were preferred.
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