Ruler of The Western Lands
Fluffy-sama
The Demon Foo Dog From Hell
Fluffy-sama aka Lord Sesshomaru
Ninety-eight percent of the time when we see Lord Sesshomaru, what we see is not him in his true form, but rather the illusionary form he allows us to see, which is a rather feminine quasi elf-like humanoid. In his true form however Sesshomaru is a 40 foot tall white Foo Dog, nicknamed by his faithful follower Jaken: Fluffy or Fluffy-sama.In his humanoid form his fans refer to him as Sesshomaru, Lord Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru-sama, Sesshoumaru, Sessho Maru, Sessho, Sess, Sesshy, or Sesshie and in his true form they call him Fluffy, Lord Fluffy, Fluffy-sama, or The Fluffy Dog.
(The correct spelling of his name btw is Sesshou Maru Sama [three words; no Lord], meaning "the end of the circle of life" or "the angel of death" though this spelling is very rarely used outside of the original Japanese version of the manga)
Foo Dogs According to Wikipedia:
Foo dog & Fu dog redirects here. It can also refer to either the Pug or the Pekingese dog breed, both of similar origin. See Fu Dog
An imperial guardian lion, also called a Fu Lion, Fu Dog, Foo Dog, lion of Buddha, or sometimes stone lion in Chinese art, is a common representation of the lion in pre-modern China, which is believed to have powerful mythic protective powers that has traditionally stood in front of Chinese Imperial palaces, temples, emperors' tombs, government offices, and the homes of government officials and the wealthy from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), until the end of the empire in 1911. In Tibet, the guardian lion is known as a Snow Lion and similar to Japanese shishi.
Imperial guardian lions are still common decorative and symbolic elements at the entrances to restaurants, hotels, and other structures. In Myanmar they are called Chinthe and gave their name to the World War II Chindit soldiers.
The lions are traditionally carved from decorative stone, such as marble and granite or cast in bronze or iron. Because of the high cost of these materials and the labor required to produce them, private use of Imperial guardian lions was traditionally reserved for wealthy or elite families. Indeed, a traditional symbol of a family's wealth or social status was the placement of Imperial guardian lions in front of the family home. However, in modern times less expensive lions, mass produced in concrete and resin, have become available and their use therefore no longer restricted to the elite.
The lions are generally present in pairs, with the female on the left and the male on the right. The male lion has his right paw on a ball, which represents the "flower of life" The female is essentially identical, but has a single cub under her left paw, representing the cycle of life.
Symbolically, the female fu dog protects those dwelling inside, while the male guards the structure. Sometimes the female has her mouth closed, and the male open. This symbolizes the enunciation of the sacred word "om". However, Japanese adaptions state that the male is inhaling, representing life, while the female exhales, representing death. Other styles have both lions with a single large pearl in each of their partially opened mouths. The pearl is carved so that it can roll about in the lion's mouth but sized just large enough so that it can never be removed.
According to feng shui, when facing the entrance the male lion dog with the globe should be placed on the right with the female on the left.
Interestingly, the lion is not indigenous to China. When Buddhist priests, or possibly traders, brought stories to China about stone dogs guarding the entry to Indian Buddhist temples, Chinese sculptors modeled statues after native dogs for use outside their temples. The mythic version of the animal, was known as the Dog of Fo, the word Fo being Chinese for Buddha. (Compare the Chow Chow, Pekingese, Shi Tzu, Shar-Pei, and Pug breeds.)
The Buddhist version of the dog was originally introduced to Han China as the protector of dharma and these dogs have been found in religious art as early as 208 BC. Gradually they were incorporated as guardians of the Chinese Imperial dharm. However, Chinese sensitivity metamorphosed the dog into a lion, since this seems more appropriate to the dignity of an emperor when he used the beasts to guard his gates
The mythic dog is sometimes associated with feng shui, and are often called Fu Dogs. Fu means 'happiness' in Chinese; however, the term "Fu Dog," and its variant Foo Dog, are not used in Chinese. Instead, they are known as Rui Shi ("auspicious lions") or simply Shi ("lions").
There are various styles of imperial guardian lions reflecting influences from different time periods, imperial dynasties, and regions of China. These styles vary in their artistic detail and adornment as well as in the depiction of the lions from fierce to serene.
Inugami According To Wikipedia
In Japanese mythology an inugami ("dog god") is a type of shikigami, similar to a familiar spirit, resembling, and usually originating from, a dog, and most commonly carrying out vengeance or acting as guardians on behalf of the inugami-mochi, or "inugami owner". Inugami are extremely powerful and capable of existing independently, as well as turning on their "owners" and even possessing humans.
The dog is viewed in Japan as a kind, bold, and nimble companion, who is ferocious toward its master's enemies. In Japanese folklore, dogs themselves are regarded as magical beings; one legend states that the dog could once talk, but lost the ability. The indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaid%u014D consider the dog a wily, dangerous and somewhat human animal.
The general belief is that an inugami is created by burying a dog up to its neck and placing food around it, which it cannot reach. It would take days for the dog to die, and during this time the dog's master would tell it that its pain is nothing compared to his own. When the dog dies, it would become an inugami; since its dying wish would have been to eat, the food placed around the corpse would act as a placatory offering, and thus make the spirit obedient.
It is believed that an inugami-mochi will be blessed with great fortune and success, and that favors granted by them will be returned with interest. However, in exchange the inugami-mochi are shunned by other people, and find it hard to get married; they must also be careful not to offend their inugami lest they receive its wrath, as unlike the kitsune, an inugami does not merely follow its master's wishes, but also acts on its own impulses.
Many small villages in Japan are considered to have at least one old lady with the power of the inugami-mochi.
An inugami's original body stays behind when it leaves to follow its masters wishes; the buried corpse slowly withers and rots, and if the inugami returns after the body is no longer habitable, it may take control of its master's body, making it even more powerful. Possession by an inugami is said to cure sickness, or ill health; however, it also results in the possessed behaving like a dog.
For Inugami in popular culture See Also:
* InuYasha, Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru's Mother, and Inu no Taishou in the anime/manga InuYasha
Fluffy-sama aka Lord Sesshomaru
Fluffy-sama (still with 4 legs)
Only 3 Legged Picture of Fluffy
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