page_title: Stone dogs in the Leizhou Peninsula
section_title: Origin
hierarchical_section_title: Stone dogs in the Leizhou Peninsula / History / Origin
caption_attribution_description: English: Shrine with Stone Dog, Tai O. The triangular-shaped stone symbolizes the local Earth God.
context_page_description: Leizhou stone dog is a heritage product blending the ancestors' tradition of totem worship integrated with different ethnic cultures. In ancient times Leizhou Peninsula was a stink, dense, wild land with a small population. It was not easy to have children while living in such harsh condition. The original inhabitants therefore worshiped dogs which could easily give birth to their descendants. Stone dogs in the Leizhou Peninsula are also called the Leizhou Stone Dogs. It is a kind of sculptures with a long history. Numerous stone dogs are widely distributed at village entrances, roads, and gates. Stone dogs are a unique local cultural heritage, with many meanings and shapes. These roughly carved stone dogs, which have turned grayish after a long period of rain and wind, are the gem of the peninsula's time-honored unique culture. They attract many tourists from both home and abroad. The stone dog is a unique form of art and culture belonging to the Leizhou Peninsula, rarely seen elsewhere China or the world.
context_section_description: Stone dogs are a product of the historic culture and natural environment in Leizhou Peninsula. The folk religions play the most important role, especially totemism and the worship of the Immortal Thunder. The culture of Chu and Han Dynasty, Taoism culture, Buddhist culture and geomancy also contribute to the rich historic meanings of stone dogs. Leizhou Peninsula is one of the most famous minefields in the world. The worship of the Immortal Thunder became a regional origin of the superstition of Stone Dogs in Leizhou. Li, Lao, Yao, Tong, Miao, and Lin peoples all inhabited Leizhou Peninsula at the very beginning. Those peoples had their own totems, such as Lin worships the raccoon dog and Miao regarded cats as their totem. Over time the local peoples gradually mixed together and were influenced one another. Their previous mascots and totems had been changed or integrated with each other. Eventually they reached a consensus on regarding the dog as their mascot in Leizhou Peninsula. From then on the worship of dogs become the origin of Stone Dogs culture.
caption: Worship of Stone Dogs
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