China's Tibetan MastiffLegends and Origin of the Tibertan Mastiff-part one

A nation with a long history always has numerous beautiful and moving stories. The Tibetan Mastiff, the companion and guardian of man, is the subject of many touching legends. One of them goes like this: Long, long ago, one severe winter the land of the Tibetans was frozen over, and plagues prevailed everywhere. The people and the livestock they relied on suffered hunger, cold and illness. All of a sudden, a large number of living Buddhas wearing cloaks, holding sacred bells and riding on giant beasts (which were later found to be Tibetan Mastiffs) descended from Heaven. With the arrival of the living Buddhas and the Tibetan Mastiffs, the ice melted, the plagues were dispelled, the land resumed its vitality, and the people were saved. Ever since then, the Tibetan people have held Tibetan Mastiffs in high esteem, and believe they are envoys from Heaven, divine dogs with a mission to protect the herdsmen.

 The Tibetan region of China has a long history of reverence for Buddhism, and that's why many of the local legends are related to religion. Here's another story about

the origin of the Tibetan Mastiff.

1. Turn the prayer wheel clockwise and one spin of the wheel amounts to saying the Six-Word Mantra once.

2. Dancing sutra streamers inscribed with the Six-Word Mantra or other sutra texts, are hung on roofs, hilltops and "mani" mound, to transmit prayers in the wind.

3. Sutra streamers and a Tibetan Mastiff

4,5,6. A "mani" stone mound with the Six-Word Mantra carved upon it. According to the tenets of Tibetan Buddhism, a "mani" acts as a prayer altar which also helps to fend off evil spirits.

 A long time ago, a Tibetan hunter was attacked by a leopard in remote mountains. The man had no time even to draw his bow, but right at that moment, a giant dog sprang down from Heaven, and stood between the leopard and his intended victim. With a thunderous roar, the dog attacked the leopard. In a welter of blood, the dog grappled with the beast, giving the hunter a chance to dispatch the leopard with his sword. In deep gratitude, the hunter took the dog home with him; ever afterwards the dog became the hunter's constant companion, and guarded his herds and homestead.

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