Perhaps you’ve heard of foo dogs — also known as fu dogs, fo dogs, or Chinese lions? These works of art may be called dogs, but are they really dogs?
First, a little history: animal imagery is an important element in Chinese art. During the Shang dynasty, stylized animal faces were placed on vessels in tombs and engraved onto weapons. For some, the animal faces served as fierce guardians or symbols of royal power. During the Han dynasty, we saw the first appearance of the lion in Chinese art. Outside of royal gifts, China had no lions of its own; experts suggest that the image of the lion came from contact with areas where lions were more prevalent. The Tang dynasty is considered by many to be the peak of Chinese artistic achievement. This is the period that brought foo dogs into the world of art.
Foo dogs are often seen in pairs. One is usually a male lion with a ball underneath one paw (or sometimes in the mouth) and one is a female lion with a cub. The ball is thought to represent the union of Heaven and earth; the cub represents the world. During imperial times, the number of curls on a foo dog’s back represented an official’s rank in the bureaucratic system. Thirteen curls represented imperial family and first rank officials. Officials below the seventh rank were not allowed to display foo dogs outside the home.
The statues may act as guardians or bring good luck. Some male foo dogs hold a ball in their mouths; turning the ball three times can turn your luck around!
So are they dogs or are they lions? They have manes, large paws, and sharp teeth… that all points to lion. However, they aren’t frightening predators — foo dogs are friendly guardians. That’s one of the reasons they are referred to as dogs.