Dogs in Chinese mythology and their significance in culture

Dogs in Chinese mythology are often depicted as loyal and trustworthy companions, reflecting their significance in Chinese culture. In ancient China, dogs were highly valued for their ability to guard and protect.

The Hound of the Heavens, a mythical dog, is said to be the loyal companion of the god of the moon, Chang'e. This mythological figure has been depicted in various forms of Chinese art, highlighting the importance of dogs in Chinese mythology.

Dogs were also associated with good fortune and prosperity in Chinese culture. In one legend, a dog's loyalty and devotion to its master ultimately led to the master's good fortune and success.

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Chinese Dog History is a rich and fascinating topic. The earliest recorded evidence of dog domestication in China dates back to around 12,000 years ago.

Dogs were first domesticated in the Yangtze River Valley, where archaeologists have found the remains of dogs that were likely kept as companions or hunting partners.

The earliest known Chinese dog breed is the Chow Chow, which has been depicted in ancient Chinese art and literature as far back as the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE).

Chow Chows were highly valued for their loyalty and protective instincts, and were often kept as palace guards.

The Pekingese, another ancient Chinese breed, was also highly prized for its small size and loyal nature.

In Chinese mythology, dogs are often associated with good fortune and prosperity, which may have contributed to their popularity as pets and working animals.

In the Chinese zodiac, the dog is the eleventh animal, and its position is not due to its swimming prowess, but rather its playful nature. The dog's playful nature caused it to fall lower on the list of signs.

The Chinese zodiac is a twelve-year cycle that associates each year with a certain creature, in a fixed order of twelve animals. This cycle has been used in Southeast Asia for thousands of years.

On a similar theme: Chinese Zodiac Dog and Monkey

The dog's playful nature is said to be a characteristic of people born in dog years, who are popularly believed to share attributes associated with dogs, such as loyalty and exuberance. However, this is modified according to other considerations of Chinese astrology.

The Hour of the Dog is 7 to 9 p.m., and the dog is associated with the ninth lunar month. People born during this time are said to possess the same qualities as the dog.

In Chinese mythology, the dog is revered for its loyalty and kindness. A Chinese saying highlights the faithfulness of the dog, which translates as "a dog would not mind if its master is poor, a son would not mind if his mother is ugly."

The respect for dogs is perhaps more pronounced in the mythologies of China's ethnic groups. For instance, the Yao and She ethnic groups worship a dog by the name of Panhu as their ancestor.

In Chinese mythology, we find a fascinating variation in the Panhu story, where the dog proposes to magically turn into a human being to marry the emperor's daughter.

This transformation process involves secluding the dog beneath a bell for 280 days, but the emperor's curiosity gets the better of him and he lifts the bell on the 279th day, breaking the spell and leaving the dog's head still in its original form.

The difficulties of a dog marriage with a human bride, especially an imperial princess, are a significant concern in this version of the Panhu myth.

In cross-cultural comparison, the way we give names to animals varies greatly. Chinese literature rarely gives names to dogs, with a notable exception being when a dog plays an important role in mythology.

This lack of named dogs in Chinese literature is striking, according to Wolfram Eberhard. Chinese grammar does not require the use of definite or indefinite articles or marking for singular or plural number, which can lead to ambiguity when referring to a dog.

The absence of specific names for dogs in Chinese literature can make it difficult to discern whether a reference to a dog means a single animal or a group.

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In the Panhu mythology, there are various versions of the story. One of these versions tells us about the Emperor's promise to his daughter in marriage as a reward to the one who brought back the enemy general's head.

The dog proposed to magically turn into a human being to marry the imperial princess, but he had to be sequestered beneath a bell for 280 days to complete the transformation.

The curious emperor couldn't resist checking on the dog, lifting up the rim of the bell on the 279th day, which broke the spell and left the dog with a human body but a dog's head.

In Chinese mythology, myths are transmitted in multiple languages, including Chinese and others, by various ethnic groups, such as the fifty-six officially recognized by the current administration of China.

Many historical Chinese stories have a double tradition, presenting both a more historicized and a more mythological version of events. This duality is also seen in accounts related to mythological dogs in China.

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Historical accounts of dogs in ancient China can be found in extant literary works, such as the Shiji by Sima Qian. Archaeological study provides substantial backing for these accounts.

Despite fantastic myths about dogs in China, real dogs have been familiar throughout China since prehistorical times. This is in contrast to exotic animals, such as lions, whose attributes may only be known indirectly.

In many Chinese myths, legends, or accounts of dogs, the dog or dogs are presented in a non-fanciful way, unlike other creatures in mythology, such as turtles, snakes, dragons, or horses.

Dogs in Chinese mythology hold a special place, symbolizing loyalty and protection.

In the legend of the Eight Immortals, the dog is one of the eight companions, representing fidelity and loyalty.

The dog is also associated with the goddess of mercy, Guanyin, who is often depicted with a dog as her companion, embodying compassion and kindness.

In many Asian cultures, a divine dog named Panhu is revered as an ancestor. Panhu is said to have helped Di Ku, a legendary Chinese sovereign, win a war by killing the enemy general and bringing him his head.

This heroic act earned Panhu a reward in the form of marriage to Di Ku's daughter, with whom he had numerous progeny. The dog and his bride settled in the mountainous region of the south, where their descendants still live today.

Panhu is worshiped by several ethnic groups, including the Yao people, the She people, the Miao people, and the Li people, who often refer to him as King Pan. Eating dog meat is considered taboo among these groups.

Gan Bao, an author from the Jin dynasty, documented the Panhu origin myth in his writings, which date back to around 266-420 AD.

In northern China, dog images made by cutting paper were thrown in the water as part of the ritual of the Double Fifth holiday, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, as an apotropaic magic act meant to drive away evil spirits.

Paper dogs were provided for protecting the dead, a practice that highlights the significance of dogs in Chinese mythology.

The Double Fifth holiday is a time for celebration and ritual, with the throwing of paper dogs into the water serving as a way to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune.

In this context, dogs are seen as a means of protection and a way to connect with the spiritual realm.

The use of paper dogs in this ritual is a testament to the resourcefulness and creativity of ancient Chinese cultures.

In Chinese art and culture, a specific term is often used to refer to guardian lions: "Foo". This term is commonly seen in Western cultures, where these statues are often called "Foo Dogs".

These statues are often depicted as dog-like, rather than lion-like, despite being referred to as lions. The real animal, the lion, is not native to most of China, except in the extreme west.

In Chinese folklore, lions play a significant part, but their artistic representations are distinct from the actual animal. This discrepancy highlights the unique cultural significance of these statues.

The term "Foo" is a Western reference, and its origins are unclear. However, the phenomenon of calling these statues "lions" is well-known in Western cultures.

In ancient Chinese society, the dog had a complex reputation, with both positive and negative connotations. The dog was a useful animal, but it was also associated with negative sayings and myths.

The Tiangou, or Heavenly Dog, was a creature that devoured the moon/sun, and its arch-enemy was Zhang Xian, the Chinese god of childbirth. Zhang Xian fired arrows at the Tiangou to ward it off.

The Chinese had a number of sayings that portrayed the dog negatively. For instance, the saying '狗嘴里吐不出象牙' translates as 'ivory will / does not come out of a dog's mouth', meaning that one should not expect evil people to utter anything good.

In some parts of ancient China, dogs were eaten by their human masters. The Yulin Dog Meat Festival in Guangxi is a more recent example of this practice, where an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 dogs are trapped, confined, and eaten each year.

Dogs in ancient China also played a role in rituals and sacrifices, and were used as companions and guardians. But their negative reputation is also evident in the sayings that describe them as untrustworthy.

Here are some examples of how dogs were used in ancient China:

These examples highlight the complex and multifaceted nature of dogs in Chinese mythology and culture.