狮子/獅子 (lion): from Persian "shir"?

[rose~]

Does anyone know whether [pop=lion/shīzi]獅子[/pop] came from Persian/Farsi شیر (shir)?

I noticed they sound silmilar, but I couldn't find any info in a dictionary about it.

Thanks.

[againstwind]

An interesting question.

Wonder if you can download this article:

张之杰：《狻Lu、师子东传试探》

In this article it said the word 狮子 came from 月氏 ( or 大月支, read as da4 rou4 zhi1) , an ancient horde in present Xinjiang and mid Asia, at the perios of Dong Han Empire.

Would the language of 月氏 be similar to Persian? I guess it's probable.

[rezaf]

at least someone could find one common word in persian and chinese. i was getting disappointed. now i feel more at home.

[gato]

There is a small list of imported words in Chinese on the page below. It lists 狮子(lion) as being imported from Persia. Only three other Persian words on this list. Do you recognize any of the others?

http://www.qqdc.com.cn/blog/?54923/action_viewspace_itemid_2148.html

汉语外来语词典

狮子(lion) [波斯 (Persia)]

玻璃(glass) 古代所指玻璃即今之水晶 [梵]sphatika， 一说来自波斯phatika

珐琅(enamel) [波斯]farang

唢呐(horn) [波斯]surna