The Strength and Protection of the Foo Dog Tattoo

The Foo Dog, or Lion Dog is the creature that guarded the Buddhist temples in the East for over two thousand years. They have also been used to guard the gates of emperors, tombs and governments buildings to ward off evil spirits. As they evolved the Foo Dog became a symbol of wealth and energy, as well as value since they were often made out of marble or bronze.

At each side of an entrance the Foo Dogs would stand guard, with a male on the right and a femal on the left. The male had a open mouth and his paw rested on a sphere which represented heaven, the female had a closed mouth and here paw rested on a lion cub, representing the earth.

Today the Foo Dog is often referred to as the Dog of Happiness and its form guards the entrances of many homes. As a tattoo a Foo Dog can symbolize strength, nobility, protection and guardianship.

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