Dog breed
Fu quan (福犬), also known as xiong quan (熊犬), long quan (龍犬), tian quan (天犬), Chinese foo dog, Chinese foo and Chinese temple forest dog, is a rare working dog breed that originated in China. Due to the fu quan's rarity, they are on the list of endangered and protected species of China.
Appearance: The fu quan is spitz tugou with a compact, square-shaped body, broad head, pricked ears, deep chest, muscular loin, and a tail that is carried over their back. This dog has a thick, rough coat that comes in a variety of colors, such as silver, blue, black, brown, or red.
History: Fu Quan (quan, 福犬) have played an important role in ancient Chinese culture. In early times, they were used in religious sacrifices and royal hunting. Books like Zhouli (The Rites of Zhou) and Liji (The Book of Rites) recorded their uses. In Zhouli, dogs were listed as one of the "six domestic animals" for sacrifices, and special officials managed them for the royal court. In Liji, dogs were considered valuable offerings and had to be raised properly according to rituals. These records show that dogs were important in both religion and daily life in ancient China.