Todaywe call them foo dogs but their beginnings in China harken to the Han Dynasty (206 BC – AD 220). They were known as guardian lions or “shishi,” which translates literally as stone lion.
Carved from stone and placed in pairs in front of imperial palaces, imperial tombs, government offices, temples, homes of government officials and the wealthy, it was believed the sculptures held mythic, protective powers. As they were introduced to other cultures, the lion sculptures were also made from marble, granite, bronze and iron.
The iconography of foo dogs became adopted by nearby Asian countries and eventually shifted from lions to dogs, primarily due to their resemblance to the Chow Chow and Shih Tzu breeds. Smaller paired versions were created utilizing jade, marble, bronze, ivory and of course porcelain.
A pair always consists of a male and a female. The female represents yin, protecting the people dwelling inside the home, and the male represents yang, protecting the structure itself. Additional symbols involve the male holding a ball in his paw often thought of as the world; the female dog holds a puppy, a nod towards nurturing nature. Typically, the female has a closed mouth to depict the inward breath of creation and the male has an open mouth to repel bad luck with his spiritual roar and the outward breath.
Foo dogs are wonderful decorations for the home and come in a variety of colors and materials. To make sure that your home does not become vulnerable to bad luck, dishonor or evil spirits, display pairs in the same room, with the male on the right and the female on the left. If you follow this pattern, you will be guaranteed a happy home.
Whether perched on a mantle, given pride of place on a special shelf, on a
console table in the foyer or at the end of a buffet in the dining room, foo dogs will be noticed and admired by all who view them.
