Expert: Aupmanyav - 8/19/2008

Question
Hi
 I am trying to find out as much as I can about Foo Dogs and wondered if you could help. Regards history, placement of a pair etc. My husband recently bought one,though we thought it was a dragon, to sit at the side of our Koi pond. Is it unlucky just to have the one?
         Many Thanks Tracey  

Answer
Hi Tracey,

I am an Indian. Did you go through Wikipedia articles on Foo dogs?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Foo_Dog or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_guardian_lions

The information at both places seem to be the same.

"According to feng shui, when facing the entrance the male lion with the globe should be placed on the right with the female on the left."

That is the limit of my knowledge about Foo dogs. However, I may state that such images are also created in India and Nepal in front of palaces and temples for the same purpose. The chinese call it 'Shi' which is derived from 'Simha', a lion. The other figures used in India are 'Eagles + man' a composite animal (Garuda) or horses, or Gandharvas and kinnaras (Celestial people supposed to be good at music and dance). They are then known as 'Dwarapala' (Gate Keepers). The main gate of a palace or a temple is known as 'Simhadwara' (the Lion's Gate). The imagery can also be found in other South-East Asian countries. (http://images.google.co.in/images?as_q=&gbv=2&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&a...)
With best regards,

Yours sincerely,

Aupmanyav