Fu Dog – Day 43

This Fu Dog is of unknown gender, artist, size – it is probably stone and located in Seoul, South Korea.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://soyoumustspeakkorean.blogspot.com/2009/07/haechi-new-symbol-for-soul-of-asia.html)

Did you know that the Fu Dog is the mascot of Seoul? It is referred to as Haechi or as Haetae!

Fu Dog – Day 42

This Fu Dog is of unknown artist, size, gender, medium, and location – whew!

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

Did you know artistic representations of Fu Dogs are almost always in a ‘naturalistic’ setting, as actual animals, and not as guardian lions in front of some structure? I imagine this Fu Dog as a free spirit, unbound by rules or guardianship responsibilities!

Fu Dog – Day 41

This Fu Dog is possibly in Tiger Palm Gardens, Singapore. It is of unknown artist, gender, size, and material.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.singas.co.uk/HTML/singapore_revisited_6c.html)

Did you know Fu Dogs can enjoy tropical locations, like by the pool surrounded by lush plants ? I too want such luxury, as evoked by the above Fu Dog!

Fu Dog – Day 40

This artwork is by Hokusai (1760-1849) during the Edo period. Its location is unknown as is the gender of the Fu Dog, and dimensions of the artwork.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hokusai_Shoki_riding_a_shishi_lion.jpg)

Did you know that almost all riders of Fu Dogs are peaceful? This is unusual, having a warrior with a drawn sword on a Fu Dog.

Fu Dog – Day 39

These two Fu Dogs are of unknown gender, artist, and material and are located in Bago, Myanmar at the Golden God Temple, also known as the Shwemawdaw Paya Pagoda.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/htawhtaw/sets/72157621183426618/)

Did you know that most photographs of Fu Dogs are from the front? I think it interesting to see behind the Fu Dogs on occasion, if only to see what they see!

Fu Dog – Day 38

This Fu Dog is of unknown artist, gender, location and year; it is reportedly made of leather.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.goodorient.com/Shadow_Play_Puppets--Chinese_Lion_P20703)

Did you know that a Fu Dog could be a toy and tell a story? Let’s play!

Fu Dog – Day 37

These Fu Dogs are inlays. They are of unknown gender, artist, location, and period.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://hotakainlays.com/eng/index.php?Inlay%20Gallery)

Did you know that Fu Dogs can roam about? These I think are traveling – they have no luggage!

Fu Dog – Day 36

This Fu Dog is male (because of the ball under his paw), is probably of marble, located in Singapore, by an unknown artist on an unknown date.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.tropicalisland.de/singapore.html)

Did you know that a some lore claims the number of curls on the mane of the Fu Dog was an indication of its owners status in Chinese culture? I wonder how important the owner of this Fu Dog is – maybe as important as you and me!

Fu Dog – Day 35

This Fu Dog is of unknown gender and location and artist, and is made of wood.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.soldbyauction.com.au/index.cfm/auction-lots/442-the-john-and-wendy-st-alban-collection/)

Did you know it is fairly uncommon for a Fu Dog to be imaged with both a cub and a ball, but it is done, and sometimes with multiple cubs, like the one pictured? What I haven’t yet ever seen is a Fu Dog (having both ball and cub) where there are multiple balls and only one cub – or even only multiple balls; it just isn’t done, for some reason!

Fu Dog – Day 34

This Fu Dog is of unknown gender and artist, possibly of concrete. It is located on a cold cold porch!

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34161279@N08/page3/ )

Did you know that Fu Dogs can weather all sorts of weather? Maybe this one enjoys the snow – a Fu Dog in Tibet is termed a  ‘Snow Lion’ - !

Fu Dog – Day 33

This Fu Dog is of unknown gender and location and unknown artist and unknown date.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.eaudrey.com/myth/kara.htm)

 

Did you know that many times a Fu Dog will be referred to as a Guardian Lion or a Chinese Lion? I like Fu Dog myself!

Fu Dog – Day 32

These Fu Dogs are of unknown gender, location, and artist. They are the Thai version of a Fu Dog.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=275401)  

Did you know that there are numerous interpretations of the features of a Fu Dog? Thai Fu Dogs usually have a fancy collar effect instead of a bushy mane!

Fu Dog – Day 31

These two Fu Dogs are a male and female pair (note the cub on the left and the ball on the right). Their location and artist is unknown.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://divinafe.com/shop/category.asp?catid=110) 

Did you know that normally if a pair of Fu Dogs is shown with both their paws on a large ball that the appearance of a cub and another ball is exceedingly rare? I do love that they are present on these colorful and cheerful  guardian lions!

Fu Dog – Day 30

This Fu Dog is of unknown gender and unknown location. It is remarked to be a porcelain snuff bottle of circa 1850.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://search.rubylane.com/search?sb=1&ss=underglaze) 

 

Did you know that some breeds of dog are reported to be inspired by or inspirations for the Fu Dog? This image seems to me to look similar to a Pekinese!

Fu Dog – Day 29

This Fu Dog is of unknown gender and location. It is a Japanese Hachiman-gama Kutani piece.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Gold-Kutani-White-Porcelain-Fu-Lion-Foo-Dog-11_W0QQitemZ350255300897QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090921?IMSfp=TL090921168002r16285) 

Did you know that a Fu Dog can perform a hand stand on top of the Shinto “Hammer of good fortune and prosperity” for hours and hours? They are mighty strong, enduring, fortunate, and beautiful in their exertions.

Fu Dog – Day 28

This Fu Dog is of unknown gender and location.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.darkos-oneness.nl/?tag=foo-dog-tattoo)

Did you know that a Fu Dog tattoo 99% of the time has ‘spots’ on the body of the Fu Dog? I don’t know why since dogs nor Asian lions have them, but, it looks great!

Fu Dog – Day 27

This Fu Dog is female (recognizable due to her paw on a Fu Dog cub). By an unknown artist, it is located in front of Canton Shrine, Thong Ching Thang, China Town, Bangkok.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.nationsonline.org/album/Chinese_New_Year/slides/China_Town_Bangkok_h005.html)

 

Did you know that even a Fu Dog likes to play dress-up for special occasions? Red is a good color for this female Fu Dog, don’t you think so – I do!

Fu Dog – Day 26

This is a Fu Dog male because of the Fu Dog ball present. It is of unknown artist and location.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://using-feng-shui.suite101.com/article.cfm/feng_shui_charms_and_gods_for_the_wealth_area)

 

Did you know that some interpretations of the ball include the sun, power over the world, and control. I like to think of it as just a ball!

Fu Dog – Day 25

This Fu Dog is female (recognizable due to her paw on a Fu Dog cub). Unknown artist and is presumably located in the Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art in Memphis Tennessee, USA.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.belz.com/shopping/ppmuseum.aspx)

 

Did you know that some artists make a Fu Dog look more like a cat than a dog? This one looks more like a cat to me – I have seen one that looks like a monkey!

Fu Dog – Day 24

This Fu Dog is male (recognizable due to his paw on a ball). It is reported to be in the Tang Dynasty (approx 618 – 907 A.D.) style.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.trocadero.com/Brasegard/items/933151/item933151store.html)

Did you know Fu Dogs sometimes had vases growing out of their backs? Neither did I (or, is that just a fancy tail-tuft)!

Fu Dog – Day 23

This Fu Dog is of unknown gender and artist. It is a Japanese Imari Porcelain bowl of the Meiji period.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.ogallerie.com/auctions/2004-10/index_16.shtml)

 

Did you know that a Fu Dog drawn as if ‘in the wild’ is pretty standard for Fu Dog artworks that aren’t sculptures? I’m not sure I’d be able to fill this bowl with soup – I’d feel like I was drowning the Fu Dog and flooding its world.

Fu Dog – Day 22

This Fu Dog is of unknown gender and unknown artist. It is located at Nijo Castle (aka Shogun Palace) in Kyoto, Japan.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://shubertalleyshephard.blogspot.com/)

 

Did you know the vast majority of Fu Dogs are depicted sitting or standing, or even sometimes crouching? It is rare to see one contorted and twisted like this one – even rarer when it is as beautifully carved and colored!

Fu Dog – Day 21

This Fu Dog is of unknown gender and unknown artist. It is a cake mold of some kind dated approximately of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1941)

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://djtravel.homestead.com/Souvenirs.html)

Did you know that a Fu Dog cake is a rare and delicious thing? I’ve never had one so I can only dream.

Fu Dog – Day 20

This Fu Dog is of unknown gender and unknown artist. It is a silver ornament of some kind dated approximately of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1941)

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://djtravel.homestead.com/Souvenirs.html)

 

Did you know that many Fu Dogs have their tongue sticking out (or at least visible)? Folk lore has it that rubbing the tongue is good luck! I’m all for good luck!

Fu Dog – Day 19

This is a Fu Dog male because of the ball underneath his paw; location unknown, artist unknown.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6680087)

Did you know that Fu Dogs usually are on a pedestal having some type of design, many times that hint of stylized flowers, like a water lily or lotus? I’m not sure why the pedestal shows up so often, but I do believe the lotus symbols on so many of the pedestal can be traced back to the Fu Dog’s association with India and Buddha.

Fu Dog – Day 18

This is a Fu Dog male because of the Fu Dog ball present and is located in Shanghai, China.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chinaspree/2129341245/in/set-72157603300588800/)
Did you know that a Fu Dog on the roof top is not an unusual thing? It it unusual if the Fu Dog is large, though; normally rooftop Fu Dogs are small guardians and are relegated to the roof-corners of a building – and are not designed as waterspouts (in the manner of some rooftop gargoyles). 

Fu Dog – Day 17

This is a Fu Dog female because of the Fu Dog cub present and is located in Shanghai, China.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7201806@N06/2109392530)

Did you know that I haven’t seen a Fu Dog with a dolphin before today? Thank you Shanghai! Also, this is the only representation that I have seen where the Fu Dog cub is not directly touching the female Fu Dog - unique!

Fu Dog – Day 16

This Fu Dog is of unknown gender and was the 2008 China Airlines float, in the 119th Rose Parade, entitled Carnival of Taiwan (where it was the winner of the International Trophy – most beautiful entry from outside the USA).


(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://digitalalley.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html)

Did you know that flower-based Fu Dogs smell pretty? It is not uncommon for some types of oriental incense-burners to be adorned with a Fu Dog or two or three.

Fu Dog – Day 15

This Fu Dog is presumably male and is a professional ceramic sculpture with celadon glaze by artist Miyanaga Tozan (1868-1941) of Kyoto, Japan.

(Image rights always belong to the image owner at: http://www.the-kura.com/items/888946/item888946store.html)

Did you know that Japanese Fu Dogs (at least many of the ones I’ve seen) are rarely with cub or ball and almost always have the mouth open? These standing, open mouthed Fu Dogs, without accessories, seem to partake of a more active, almost aggressive, ‘guardian lion’ interpretation – much more so than their Chinese and India-based relatives.

Fu Dog – Day 14

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://picasaweb.google.com/brandonbradley/ChinaYanggu#5088306592906156274)

Did you know that there are few stories about Fu Dogs having ribbons on or around them? My favorite is one where the ribbon holds the Fu Dog’s head on (a compassionate act by one deity after the Fu Dog’s head is chopped off by another deity)!

Fu Dog – Day 13

These Fu Dogs are of unknown gender and location.

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Did you know there is a definition for a pair of Fu Dogs where, if they do not have either ball or cub but one has its mouth open and one has its mouth closed, the Male Fu Dog is the one with the open mouth and the female Fu Dog the one with the closed mouth? In one interpretation they are suppose to be, together in harmony, voicing “OM” – a sacred word.