In Buddhism, the image of Garuda catching the Naga is used as a metaphor for the suppression of desire. The use of images of Garuda to express this symbolic significance first began in the Kushan dynasty of ancient India. After an initial period of emergence in Gandhara culture, these images further developed in the region of ancient Qiuci （Kucina） and in Han Chinese Buddhist culture. By this time, statues of Garuda from Tibetan Buddhism were popular in places dominated by Han Chinese. Images of Garuda have experienced nearly two thousand years of history and influenced the culture of an immense area in Asia, and remain a powerful symbol emblematic of Buddhist culture.
