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Dogs are the most commonly worshipped animal in Taiwanese folk religions. The lives of dogs and humans have been inextricably linked since the Stone Age, whilst dogs continue to hold an important position in different cultures around the globe. A belief in dog deities amongst Taiwan’s Han Chinese community originated from immigrants from China’s Fujian and Guangdong provinces, whilst localized development of these beliefs saw them become more diverse. Whether looking at animism, myths and legends, or the Chinese zodiac, dog-related beliefs and customs continue to be passed down through folk culture. Taking folklore as the starting point for the study, the author conducted field research on more than fifty temples across Taiwan that were known to worship dog deities. Having analysed the collected information, the author believes that, on the basis of historical background and story lines, the legends can be categorized into three types: 1) dogs are elevated to the level of deity due to legendary stories 2) dogs are elevated to the level of deity due to a certain set of events, and 3) dogs are elevated to the level of deity after their death. All three types of legend demonstrate the process by which dogs’ “loyalty” to humans was the reason behind their deification. Not only does this reflect the close relationship between dogs and humans, it also serves as to illustrate the specific way in which dogs are valued by people. Original features tend to be maintained when creating statues of dog deities, the majority of which are molded in the form of the native Taiwanese dog or wolfhound. Most Taiwanese beliefs in dog deities were established during the economic boom of the 1970s. This was also the time at which the practice of worshipping dogs was at its most prevalent. In Taiwan, the belief in dog deities is similar to the worship of the Tiger God in that they both help with the protection of children and the accumulation of wealth. However, belief in dog deities is not nearly as widespread as belief in the Tiger God. Mainly, people esteem the image and character of dogs. This is perhaps the main reason behind the development of such beliefs. This paper will attempt to construct the lineage behind beliefs in dog deities. Through research into Taiwanese folk religion, the paper will outline what makes belief in dog deities unique from belief in other animal deities.
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