People only know the "sky-high Tibetan mastiff" that has been sold for tens of millions of dollars, but few people know the top patron saint in the hearts of the older generation of Tibetans - the Tibetan lion. Compared with the fame of the Tibetan mastiff, the Tibetan lion is more like a strong hand in the mountains, today let's learn about the Tibetan lion that has been forgotten in the corner.
The top king hidden behind the Tibetan mastiff: the Tibetan lion
When it comes to Tibetan mastiffs, there is hardly anyone who is not intimidated by their tall and powerful bodies and inviolable momentum. The purebred Tibetan mastiff was once a pig on the outlet, and it was speculated for tens of millions of dollars, and was ridiculed as "a dog worth a building".
Although the history of this scenery has passed, as a deterrent and aggressive dog breed, the Tibetan mastiff is still the "god in the heart" of many dog lovers.
As everyone knows, in addition to the tall and mighty Tibetan mastiff in Tibet, there is also a more outstanding dog breed hidden behind it, that is, the Tibetan lion. As an ancient native dog breed in Tibet, the Tibetan lion is heavier than the Tibetan mastiff in the hearts of the older generation of Tibetans. What kind of dog is this, which can win the favor of generations of Tibetans?
There are many fantastic myths and legends in Tibet, and the Tibetan lion is of great significance in this mythological system, and many traditional folk activities in Tibet are still closely related to the Tibetan lion.
Although today's Tibetan lion is essentially a dog, from a mythological level, it is actually a mighty and domineering lion. Why is that? It is said that Tsongkhapa, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, made a lion in the image of a dog in order to better take care of the herd, prevent the herd from causing trouble, and prevent foreign beasts from harming the herd.
On the other hand, in Tibet, where religious concepts are strong, the Tibetan lion is also the patron saint of the temple and the top king. On the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, fierce beasts are frequent, such as wild wolves and bison.
The harsh climate and terrain in Tibet make it emboldened by wild animals to break into human houses and temples when food sources are scarce. As the supreme belief in the hearts of the Tibetan people, the temple naturally cannot be allowed to invade by these wild beasts. Therefore, the strong and reliable Tibetan lion became the protector of the temple.
Now, in Tibet, a grand lion dance is still held regularly every year, and the gongs and drums are noisy, which is comparable to "driving away the beasts of the year during the Spring Festival". It is said that this is also related to the Tibetan lion.
Legend has it that in ancient society, tigers and leopards were infested and wantonly invaded human habitats to "burn, kill and loot", which once caused social turmoil. In order to curb the evil deeds of these wanton beasts, the benevolent and kind-hearted Buddha was born as a more powerful and powerful snow-capped lion after his death, taking on the important task of protecting the people, domestic animals and poultry, and conscientiously driving away fierce beasts such as tigers and leopards.
It is precisely with the protection of the snow-capped mountain lion that the lives of the common people soon returned to normal, and the society became orderly again. In order to commemorate the snow-capped mountain lion, later generations sang the lion dance every year to praise its exploits and praise the greatness of the snow-capped mountain lion reincarnated by the Buddha.
The forgotten Chinese fierce dog: the Tibetan lion
As a sacred object enshrined in Tibetan religious beliefs, the status of the Tibetan lion is much higher than that of the Tibetan mastiff, but now it is gradually forgotten by the world, and its situation is indeed extremely embarrassing.
It is understood that due to people's lack of attention, the purebred Tibetan lion has gradually declined, and the purebred Tibetan lion often has stronger explosiveness and is more brave and loyal. In terms of appearance, the Tibetan lion is very similar to the Tibetan mastiff, and they are both well-deserved large dog breeds. It's just that the Tibetan mastiff with vigorous hair looks more bulky, while the Tibetan lion is lighter and more agile.
The appearance of the Tibetan lion is very similar to many traditional lion bronzes in Tibet, the momentum is very martial, the hair is fluffy and flowing, and the movements are smooth. The entire head of the Tibetan lion is covered with soft long hair, and even the feet are covered with long hair, and the hair on the body and limbs is denser, which provides many benefits for the Tibetan lion to survive in the harsh and cold Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Many of the habits of the Tibetan lion are similar to those of the Tibetan mastiff, such as the time of estrus and the number of calves. Many people can't help but be afraid when they see the fierce and vicious appearance of the Tibetan mastiff, and this external deterrent is a sharp weapon for the Tibetan mastiff to expel the beast.
But when it comes to actual matchups, the explosiveness and combat effectiveness of the Tibetan lion are often stronger. The Tibetan lion's temperament makes it more tamable, lively and close to the master, fierce and ruthless to foreign enemies, and the Tibetan lion's command to the master "must be fulfilled", and will not easily transgress; At the same time, the Tibetan lion is very intelligent, empathetic, and can better understand human needs and instructions in the process of getting along with humans for a long time, which makes the Tibetan lion very popular with temple keepers.
However, the highlight moment of the Tibetan lion has also passed away with the baptism of history. It is reported that as far as the current situation in China is concerned, the purebred Tibetan lion is critically endangered, and at the same time, the Chinese people have little understanding of the Tibetan lion, let alone vigorously protect these precious and endangered dog breeds.
Now, internationally certified dog breeds have formed a robust system, like a unique alliance, which continues to attract people's attention and naturally triggers strong protection.
In contrast, due to its low popularity, it is difficult to be noticed, and the lack of publicity, conservation measures and activities related to this gives people a feeling of "dispensable" for Tibetan lions. But this view is extremely wrong, as a native Tibetan dog breed and an inseparable part of the Tibetan mythological system, the precarious population situation of purebred Tibetan lions should indeed attract the attention of human beings.
Protecting the Tibetan lion has a faint light
In recent years, the certification and protection of dog breeds has set off a trend at home and abroad. Everywhere is in full swing to protect the most loyal guardian of mankind - dogs. Dog breeds such as Bulldogs, Alaska, Poodles, German Collies, and Border Collies have become commonplace, and they have gained a lot of attention and protection from humans because of their fame.
However, for the Tibetan lion, a native and rare dog breed, it is facing an endangered situation due to a lack of visibility and protection measures.
However, according to the news of the whole network, in 2016, the mainland native dog conservation club started the breed conservation work, and the local dog breeds were included in the scope of protection. In recent years, the historic Chinese pastoral dog has also been known as the focus of Chinese attention. These "rhubarb", which accompanied many people through their childhood in the countryside, have become irreplaceable childhood playmates and loyal guardians in people's hearts.
It is believed that after popularization, the Tibetan lion, an outstanding and excellent dog breed with Chinese genes, can be vigorously protected. And through this, the trend of "great protection" of local dog breeds has been set off, so that they are proud of being "Chinese dogs".
There is only one word between the Tibetan lion and the Tibetan mastiff, but the fate of the two is very different. The purebred Tibetan lion is in a precarious situation, and I hope to get more people's attention and protection! Thank you for reading.