Delightful Dogs

Foo (fu) dogs     
 

Foo dogs are prominent in the Buddhist religion and widespread over the far  east, thus the Korean designation as "Lion of Korea." The Chinese   call  it the "Dog of Fo," Fo, being the Chinese word for Buddha.  It was found at the threshold of Buddhist temples. The lion is sacred to Buddhism and is sometimes presented as offerings to Buddha. An alternate explanation for the name is that it is derived from the cityof Foochow. Earliest traces of the animal show up in art   from the Han Dynasty dating from approximately 208 BC to 221 AD. The animal disappeared from use for the next 400 years, reappearing during the T'ang Dynasty, 618 to 917 AD.  Usually the companion of Buddha,  the foo  dog is considered to be a fantastic animal.

The animal is usually shown with its paw on a sphere standing guard over the entrance to temples and tombs; thus discouraging evil spirits and wrong doers from entering, and maintaining peace and tranquility within the sanctuary.       It is known as the Happiness Dog as well as the Celestial Dog,  an emblem of value and energy, those indispensable complements of wisdom, and was embroidered on the court robes of military officials.

The animal is usually shown with its paw on a sphere standing guard over the entrance to temples and tombs; thus discouraging evil spirits and wrong doers from entering, and maintaining peace and tranquility within the sanctuary.       It is known as the Happiness Dog as well as the Celestial Dog,  an emblem of value and energy, those indispensable complements of wisdom, and was embroidered on the court robes of military officials.  Are foo dogs   really lions?  Some appear nearly so.   The lion does not occur in Chinese primitive art, but was introduced later in connection with Buddhism as the defender of law and protector of sacred buildings. Lions are often placed at temple gates and porticos of houses. Sometimes, they guard tombs. Stone lions in front of official buildings were originally put there to scare demons . Some Buddhist deities are occasionally depicted mounted on this beast.  But the distinction blurs, depending upon the artistic rendering.  The foo dog symbolism appears in studies of feng shui.

Although the Forbidden City in China is guarded by foo dogs, you don't have to travel that far.  You can visit foo  dogs in Allerton Illinois or Baltimore Maryland . Visit the Fu Dog Garden in Allerton Park. See Fang the Fu Dog in Baltimore.

See photos of foo (fu) dogs here and here.  Check these out too here.  And here as well.  Here is a snow fu dog!  Ice fu dog also. Fu dog guarding a canal can be found here.  See  Royal Doulton Burslem Artwares Qinghai Fu Dogs

More on Feng shui:  The Complete Illustrated Guide to Feng Shui : How to Apply the Secrets of Chinese Wisdom for Health, Wealth and Happiness  by Lillian Too.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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