Pictured is a red female foo dog statue on a concrete base in the 4th courtyard of the Temple of Literature, Hanoi, Vietnam. Foo Dogs, Chinese guardian lions, are the ancient sacred dogs of Asia who have traditionally guarded palaces, temples, tombs and homes of the wealthy. They are usually presented in pairs and the male is usually shown with the holding one paw on a sphere symbolizing the Earth, while the female holds a cub. There is a male statue on the other side of the courtyard. Their faces have a mischievous and almost devilish look about them; and their eyes are normally wide open
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