Shisa Dogs

[Poco]

Hey Folks!

I just wanted to know what the predominate Catholic opinion is about having a pair of Shisa Dogs around the house is.

If you’re not aware, Shisa Dogs are those dogs, lions, dragons seen in pairs around doorways in many oriental countries. I brought some back after my stay in Okinawa.

Just curious.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Keep 'em. Or better yet, if you’re quite the traveler and have all sorts of other knick-knacks from other parts of the globe, you could arrange 'em all in one corner for everyone to see.

It’s kinda like putting stamps on a traveling bag to show where and how far you’ve been.

And on that not, might I express a bit jealousy at your good fortune of being able to travel to Japan? X3

 

[Monica4316]

Hey Folks!

I just wanted to know what the predominate Catholic opinion is about having a pair of Shisa Dogs around the house is.

If you’re not aware, Shisa Dogs are those dogs, lions, dragons seen in pairs around doorways in many oriental countries. I brought some back after my stay in Okinawa.

Just curious.

how are they different from other types of dogs? (this is my first time hearing of Shisa Dogs)

 

[Poco]

And on that not, might I express a bit jealousy at your good fortune of being able to travel to Japan? X3

Well, there were a lot of good times, and I am fortunate to be able to experience many different parts of the world. However, it wasn’t all fun and games. After all, I was “travelling” with the USMC! Semper Fi!

how are they different from other types of dogs? (this is my first time hearing of Shisa Dogs)

I suppose the biggest difference would be the Shisa are not living animals. Being placed by the door of a home or other building, the female has her mouth closed to keep the good spirits in and the male has his mouth open, growling, to keep bad spirits out.

 

[Poco]

BTW, the pair I have are much more attractive than the pair pictured in my post above.

 

[Snugglebugmom]

Going by what Michelle Arnold has stated in answers to similar questions on the Ask an Apologist forum, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having Shisa dogs, as long as they represent a memory of a visit or other memorable occasion. It becomes problematic when you actually start believing that they will keep the good spirits in and the bad spirits out. Of course when that is the case, you probably have bigger issues than just the Church Teachings.

 

[Poco]

Going by what Michelle Arnold has stated in answers to similar questions on the Ask an Apologist forum, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having Shisa dogs, as long as they represent a memory of a visit or other memorable occasion. It becomes problematic when you actually start believing that they will keep the good spirits in and the bad spirits out. Of course when that is the case, you probably have bigger issues than just the Church Teachings.

Thanks, mom! :hug3:

 

[BVM_1221]

Hey Folks!

I just wanted to know what the predominate Catholic opinion is about having a pair of Shisa Dogs around the house is.

If you’re not aware, Shisa Dogs are those dogs, lions, dragons seen in pairs around doorways in many oriental countries. I brought some back after my stay in Okinawa.

Just curious.

OK, these dogs/lions/dragons/whatever are quite common in the Oriental countries. Tradionally, One is male, one is female. They should be on either side of your front door for protection.

As long as you don’t really believe that they are supernatural guardians, it would be quite OK to display them. As conversation pieces, as souveniers, as artictic decor.

 

[Poco]

If I read this correctly, BVM,

“Cat Daddy to Pumpkin, Gigi, and Boris; who neither endorse nor oppose my opinions.”

Well, that’s cats!

 

[Monica4316]

I suppose the biggest difference would be the Shisa are not living animals. Being placed by the door of a home or other building, the female has her mouth closed to keep the good spirits in and the male has his mouth open, growling, to keep bad spirits out.

oh I feel silly now I thought they were actual dogs at first. Sorry I don’t know what the answer to your question would be… I guess it depends on whether you have any superstitious beliefs about the dogs. As long as they are just objects for decoration, maybe it’s alright. I do know though that my family had a Buddha for decoration in the living room but then we started feeling really uncomfortable having it there cause we’re not Buddhist. Sorry I don’t have any concrete answer lol.

 

[Poco]

oh I feel silly now I thought they were actual dogs at first. Sorry I don’t know what the answer to your question would be… I guess it depends on whether you have any superstitious beliefs about the dogs. As long as they are just objects for decoration, maybe it’s alright. I do know though that my family had a Buddha for decoration in the living room but then we started feeling really uncomfortable having it there cause we’re not Buddhist. Sorry I don’t have any concrete answer lol.

No reason to feel silly. My original post probably wasn’t quite clear enough. BTW, I had a cousin who kept a Buddah around the house because their “bellies” were quite similar.

 

[Poco]

Monica, please don’t be offended by my last post.

 

[BVM_1221]

If I read this correctly, BVM,

“Cat Daddy to Pumpkin, Gigi, and Boris; who neither endorse nor oppose my opinions.”

Well, that’s cats!

And my own conclusion of “footprints in the sand”…

"My cat, my cat, my dearest cat; your Guardian loved you very much, and there is no way he would ever have left you. Those times when you saw only one set of footprints in the sand? That was when he was cleaning out your litter box.

 

[Poco]

And my own conclusion of “footprints in the sand”…

"My cat, my cat, my dearest cat; your Guardian loved you very much, and there is no way he would ever have left you. Those times when you saw only one set of footprints in the sand? That was when he was cleaning out your litter box.