The lions are generally present in pairs, with the female on the left and the male on the right. The male lion has his right paw on a globe, which represents his "feeling the pulse of the earth." The female is essentially identical, but has a single cub under her left paw. Symbolically, the female fu dog protects those dwelling inside, while the male guards the structure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_guardian_lions