Dictionary

foo dog en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• fo͞o

Etymology

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.

Meanings

1. A stylized lion statue similar to those usually placed in male and female pairs outside imperial Chinese palaces, tombs, temples, etc.
   • 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. 1916 March 1, John Kimberly Mumford, “Chinese Rugs”, in The Mentor, volume 4, number 2:
   • 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. 2014, Shelia Hollihan-Elliot, Art and Architecture of China, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:
2. A Pekingese dog.

Forms

Synonyms

stone lion · guardian lion · foo lion · komainu

Translations (10)

ko 해태 (Chinese statue) · de Wächterlöwe (Chinese statue) · fi leijonakoira (Chinese statue) · vi sư tử đá (Chinese statue) · ko 해태 (Chinese statue) · ja 狛犬 (Chinese statue) · cmn 石獅子 /石狮子 (Chinese statue) · cmn 石獅 /石狮 (Chinese statue) · ryu シーサー (Chinese statue) · pl lew chiński (Chinese statue)