Foo Dog Meanings:
The lions are always presented in pairs, with the male on the
left and the female on the right. The male lion has his right paw on
a ball, which represents the 'Flower of life'. The female is
essentially identical, but has a single cub under her left paw,
representing the cycle of life. Symbolically, the female fu lion
protects those dwelling inside, while the male guards the structure.
Sometimes the female has her mouth closed, and the male open. This
symbolizes the enunciation of the sacred word "om". However,
Japanese adaptions state that the male is inhaling, representing
life, while the female exhales, representing death. Other styles
have both lions with a single large pearl in each of their partially
opened mouths. The pearl is carved so that it can roll about in the
lion's mouth but sized just large enough so that it can never be
removed.
Foo Dogs are the
ancient sacred dogs of Asia who guard Buddhist temples. The
association between these dogs and Buddha is one of great
significance. Foo Dogs have the appearance of a lion. The lion in
Buddhist religion is seen as sacred, and has sometimes been offered
to Buddha as a sacrifice. The name given to these guardians
originates from China. The Chinese word for Buddha is Fo, which led
to the original title– “Dog of Fo”. There have been other theories
that the name developed from the city of Foochow; however, there is
no actual proof of this. Another name given to the beast is “Lion
of Korea”. This, of course, is due to the creatures close
appearance to a Lion.
Foo Dogs can be traced
as early as the Han Dynasty. Their first appearance was in Chinese
art, which dates back to approximately 208 BC to about 221 AD. Foo
Dogs vanished for nearly 400 years after their first
appearance. They later returned in the T’ang Dynasty that was in
power from 618 to 917 AD. Foo Dogs were popular because of their
meaning. The Lion is a creature of the feline race that is known as
the proud master of all cats. Its introduction into Chinese art
coincided with Buddhism. The Foo Dog was the protector of sacred
buildings and a defender of law. The dogs were commonly placed at
business institutions, temple gates, home entrances, and
estates. It was also not uncommon to see these sacred dogs guarding
tombs or placed in front of government buildings to scare evil
spirits. Through out the ages, Foo Dogs were frequently given as
gifts to the Emperor. They would be presented in sculptures or in
the form of artwork.
Foo Dog artwork
varied. Buddha was sometimes depicted on the back of the great
beast, but Foo Dogs are more often displayed in a powerful guarding
position. The creature is usually presented holding a spear in its
paw. This was the representation of the peace and serenity the
animal would maintain for the sanctuary it was guarding; thus
discouraging any wrong doers and demon spirits from entering the
place of tranquility. The Foo Dog comes in many shapes, sizes,
different materials, and colors. Their faces have a mischievous and
almost devilish look about them; and their eyes are normally wide
open with a tiny speck in the middle. This threatening appearance
is what gives the idea that they guard against evil spirits. The
animal is a symbol of energy and value, and is often displayed in a
male/female pair. The male plays with a ball that symbolizes the
Earth, while the female holds a cub. The Foo Dog is embodied in rich
Chinese history and tradition. They are still very popular today,
not only in China, but also in other parts of the world. They are
fantastic dogs not only infused with artwork – but with meaning.
