Cultural Interests of Dogs

Dogs are synonymous with loyalty. Dogs are prudent and reliable in the eyes of others, and there won't be any major problems.

Dogs are a friend of humans who share weal and woe, and are considered to be human animals. They are particularly loyal to humans and therefore have the meaning of loyalty. Examples such as "Shepherd Dogs Seeking the Lord Three Thousand Miles" and "Savior of Righteous Dogs" illustrate this point well. "The labor of dogs and horses" is also used as a metaphor for loyalty. However, “dogs” are derogatory. The “lack running dogs of the bereaved capitalists” described by Mr. Lu Xun symbolizes the shameless literati who have no national backbone. However, from the perspective of folklore, dog has some other meanings.

Generally speaking, Chinese people regard dogs as auspicious animals. If a dog suddenly comes to someone’s house, the owner will happily adopt it, because it heralds the arrival of wealth. The so-called "cats come to be poor and dogs come to be rich" ". The dog and the owner share the joys and sorrows. If there is any disaster, it will also indicate the precursor. For example, the dog's going to the house indicates the imminent thieves. Dogs like to bark, but there must be a reason for their barking. Therefore, the ancients used the time of the bark as a sign of good or bad. If the dog barks at the right time, the housewife will be noisy; when the dog barks in ugliness, the housewife will be upset and sleepless; when the dog barks, the god of wealth comes to the door; when the dog barks in Mao, the future is bright; when the dog barks, the relatives are coming; the dog barks at noon, someone entertains; , Wife has an external heart, must meet a villain; Shenshi dog barks, children are evil; Youshi dog barks, the official promotion; Xushi dog bark, beware of right and wrong; Haishi dog bark, beware of lawsuits.

The dog's coat color is often yellow, red, white, black, brown, brown, etc. or mixed with more than two or three colors. According to ancient people's opinion, dogs of different coat colors have different qualities. The book "The Law of Six Animals" believes that a black dog with yellow eyebrows should be guarded, and a black dog with all black eyebrows is a money-consuming trouble; poodles are auspicious things, especially black poodles can make people rich; black dogs if they are white Chest and white buttocks will bring disaster; yellow dog's eyebrows should be light, if it is too dark, it will be unlucky. The "Miscellaneous Five Elements Book" believes that yellow dogs have the best quality and white dogs have the worst quality. However, the symbolic meaning of the white dog will be different due to different circumstances. The book says: a white dog with black head will make the owner rich; a white dog with black tail will make the owner have a car forever; a black dog with white ears will make the owner precious; a black dog with white front legs will make the owner's descendants prosperous; a yellow dog White tail, the owner does not worry about food and clothing.

The ancients in our country believed that in addition to the symbolic function of harbingers of good fortune and evil, dogs also had the function of eliminating disasters. why? According to the "Ritual Theory", dogs belong to: "Animals of the Most Sun". Cooking dogs in the East can make the yang vigor and store all things. And Ying Shao of the Eastern Han Dynasty has another explanation in "Fun Su Tong Yi", he said: The city where the emperor lives has a total of twelve gates, and the three gates in the east are the gates of vitality. In order to prevent the dead from appearing in the gates of life, So kill the dog before the other 96. In the theory of yin and yang and the five elements, the dog matches the metal in the five elements, and corresponds to the west in the orientation, and counteracts the wood in the east. Killing a dog has the effect of stopping the yin and dampness of the spring and resuscitating all things. Dogs can avoid evil and disasters. This is not a strange theory. Even Li Shizhen, a famous medical scientist in the Ming Dynasty, recognized this special function of dogs. He recorded in "Compendium of Materia Medica": The practitioner believed that dogs could shed everything. Evil magic. "Historical Records" said: Qin State draped and mutilated dogs in front of the four gates of the city's east, south, west, and north to resist disasters. At the same time, use the blood of a white dog on the door to expel the ominous. This is a custom that has existed since ancient times. According to the "Farewell Biography of Hua Tuo", there was a woman in Ya who had a large sore on her buttocks. It was itchy but not painful. It recurred and could not be cured. After Hua Tuo's examination, he took a rice-hued dog and tied the dog Behind the horse, when the horse walked fifty miles, he twisted the dog’s neck and buckled it on the woman’s sore. After a while, I saw a worm wriggling under the skin and used a hook to draw the worm out. The worm was three feet long. Seven days later, the woman recovered from her illness. Li Shizhen believes that although this case is very strange, it is indeed the blood of the dog that brought the worm out.

Dogs have such a close relationship with humans, and dogs have such a magical effect. Therefore, dogs have become one of the most commonly used animals in sacrifices by the ancients. In the Zhou Dynasty, there was a special position of "canine man", who was in charge of "canine animals". Not only do humans keep dogs, but the heavenly gods also keep dogs as pets. According to folklore, Erlang Shen Yang Jian has a "snarling dog", who will follow Erlang Shen at any time to accompany him to cast down monsters and catch monsters. ( Chinese Zodiac http:///shengxiao/)

Regarding the various symbolic meanings of dogs and their legends, both natural factors and human-made mysterious elements are in them. It is not advisable to completely deny or believe completely. The correct attitude should be grasped through the mysterious appearance. People's perceptions and psychological tendencies towards dogs.