Ancient Chinese statues. Ancient Chinese foo dog statue. Carved dark green jade open mouthed foo dog wearing a collar with pendants. Seated on a base with incised flowers on all sides. Foo dogs are really lions, the proud Mother of the feline race. Although lions were not indigenous to China, lion artwork and sculptures were imported gifts to the emperor. Later introduced in Chinese primitive art, the lion became associated with Buddhism as the defender of law and protector of sacred buildings. First appearing in Chinese artwork as early as 208 BC, the Han Dynasty, foo dogs date back to the beginnings of Buddhism. Buddha was sometimes depicted on the back of the great beast, but more often displayed in a powerful guarding position. It is important to point out that they are also known as the celestial dog, and the happiness dog, possing mythic protective powers. They originated in China with its name supposedly deriving from the city of Foochow. It is said that they originated through a crossing of Northern European hunting dogs and that of the ancient Chow Chow from the barren steppes of Mongolia. Another belief is that they are perhaps the missing link between that of the Chinese Wolf and the Chow Chow.
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