Fu Dog – Day 12

This Fu Dog is of unknown gender (though I suspect it is male) and located “in and around the Chempaka Buddhist lodge, Taman South East Asia, Petaling Jaya”.

 

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://mytomyam.blogspot.com/2009/08/88-taiwan-typhoon-morakot-memorial.html)

 

Did you know there are several stories why Buddha (or other deities) may ride on a Fu Dog? I think there might be room on there for two…

Fu Dog – Day 11

This Fu Dog is female (recognizable due to her paw on a Fu Dog cub).

 

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.thegreenplum.com/Accessories.html)

 

Did you know that a Fu Dog does not traditionally have horns nor hooves nor scales nor wings nor a sinewy body? None of those things are part of a dog nor part of an Asian lion and so cannot be present on a traditional Fu Dog representation.

Fu Dog – Day 10

This Fu Dog is of unknown gender and unknown location.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://genemcguire.com/Html/Pictures5.htm)

Did you know that a Fu Dog sometimes can have both a cub and a ball? I don’t know why – maybe it’s a visiting relative babysitting while the male and female are out playing?

Fu Dog – Day 9

These Fu Dogs are male (recognizable due to paws on balls) and are located in Taipei Taiwan at a Guan Yin Temple.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lodgegrass/3576780537/in/set-72157621451624017)

Did you know that Fu Dogs as guardian lions do not have to be presented in only a male/female pairing? The above temple picture shows male Fu Dogs as guardian lions, each with an extra large ball underneath their front paws!

Fu Dog – Day 8

This Fu Dog is female (recognizable due to her paw on a Fu Dog cub).

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.huntingtonbotanical.org/Rose/Subrosa/46/lions.htm)

Did you know that it is impossible to tell whether a Fu Dog is male or is female without one having either a ball or a Fu Dog cub? Well, that is unless the artist gives the Fu Dog visible ‘private’ anatomy which is very very rarely done!

Fu Dog – Day 7

This Fu Dog is male (recognizable due to his paw on a ball).


(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.huntingtonbotanical.org/Rose/Subrosa/46/lions.htm)


Did you know that the ball can be placed under either paw of the male Fu Dog? For a pairing of Fu Dogs, the female should always have the Fu Dog cub under the paw opposite the one the Fu Dog male is using to hold the ball.

Fu Dog – Day 6

This Fu Dog is female (recognizable due to her paw on a Fu Dog cub) and is the third female Fu Dog presented that is located in Beijing China at the Forbidden City.



(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cactusmelba/1054380046/)


Did you know that Fu Dogs are also called Guardian Lions? It’s because the Asian lion (the lion portion of a Fu Dog) figures prominently in Buddhist history-and-lore in India (home of the Asian Lion) as being a Stupa (a Stupa is a dome shaped shrine) guardian; that role-interpretation (in addition to many of the Asian lion's physical features) was perpetuated in most early Fu Dog variations.

Fu Dog – Day 5

This Fu Dog is male (even at this angle recognizable due to his paw on a ball) and is the third unique male Fu Dog presented that is located in Beijing China at the Forbidden City.



(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.chinaodysseytours.com/tours/12-days-Beijing-and-East-China-Water-Tour/itinerary.html)


Did you know that visitors typically must walk between two Fu Dogs as they enter? This is suppose to neutralize any harmful intentions visitors may bring with them.

Fu Dog – Day 4

This Fu Dog is female (recognizable due to her paw on a Fu Dog cub) and is located in Beijing China at the Forbidden City.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/a2YuY9mJ8K_YuYPnnNSTTw)

Have you noticed that some Fu Dogs’ manes look like snail-shells? There are those that say it is in honor of the story of snails protecting the head of Buddha.

Fu Dog – Day 3

This Fu Dog is male (recognizable due to his paw on a ball) and is located in Beijing China at the Forbidden City.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.fotothing.com/DragonSpeed/photo/c1ca0071350866ec8020f6b806883d54/)

Did you know that Fu Dogs are the combination of two actual animals? They combine the features of an Asian Lion and a Dog!

Fu Dog – Day 2

This Fu Dog is female (recognizable due to her paw on a Fu Dog cub) and is located in Beijing China at the Forbidden City.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pablogee/489263062/)

Did you know that Fu Dog folklore says Fu Dogs give milk from their paws? It’s why the Fu Dog cub is under one – so it can drink!

Fu Dog – Day 1

This Fu Dog is a male (recognizable due to his paw on a ball) and is located in Beijing China at the Forbidden City.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1307355792046178625WNUtSD)

Did you know the Fu Dog is a mythical creature? Yep, it doesn’t really exist as a living thing, except in art!