foo dog

• Foo dog, fu dog

Possibly a Western invention, from Mandarin 福 (fú, “good fortune”) + English dog. There is no similar word in Chinese itself that uses the word 福 (fú), but see English foo and Foo. Compare also Chinese 佛 (“Buddha”), pronounced fo or fu in some varieties.

foo dog (plural foo dogs)

1. A stylized lion statue similar to those usually placed in male and female pairs outside imperial Chinese palaces, tombs, temples, etc.

   Synonyms: foo lion, guardian lion, stone lion, (Japanese contexts) komainu

   • 1916 March 1, John Kimberly Mumford, “Chinese Rugs”, in The Mentor‎^[1], volume 4, number 2:

     Passing to the central medallion, yet a new element confronts us in the Foo dogs, of which several are employed, somewhat crowded, and confused by reason of their coloring, which, nevertheless, is good and, so far as balance is concerned, well distributed.

   • 2014, Shelia Hollihan-Elliot, Art and Architecture of China‎^[2], Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:

     In the revival of Buddhism during Tang times (618–907), all Buddhist temples were protected by a pair of these stone lions. Eventually Foo dogs became popular at the entryways of homes, gardens, and places of business. Traditionally the Foo dogs were somewhat austere, unpainted stone sculptures meant to frighten away evil spirits. Gradually they became more colorful, doglike, and somewhat playful.

2. A Pekingese dog.