The Legend of the Chow Chow's blue tongue

I've been missing Tara so much lately! I've decided to post the legend of how the Chow Chow got it's blue/black tongue. My personal favorite is the story of the Chow helping God paint the sky blue.

LEGENDS (taken from the website of Majesty Chows)

It is not surprising that the three of the legends I have found refer to the Chow's almost unique color of the mouth and tongue. The only other canine breed which shares this peculiarit is the Chinese Shar Pei which comes from the same area and probably from similar origins. The blackness of the mouth was said to ward off evil spirits and so enhanced the Chow's reputation as a guard dog of both palaces and monasteries. Then there are two fanciful explanations of how the Chow came to have this strange color tongue. Many hundreds of years ago, when dog eaters were running wild all over the country there was a lone monk living deep in the hills who took in stray dogs for company. He was very kind to all animals and they in turn were very grateful for his kindness. One day the monk fell very ill and was unable to go pick up firewood to make dinner, so all the dogs and animals banded together to do the chore. It is happened that some trees in the nearby forest were thunderstruck and left a pile of charcoal. The Chow Chow rummaged along the forest floor and picked up some of these charcoal pieces. The monkey made meals thereafter until the monk was well again. But the tongue of the Chow was stained black ever since the day he picked up the charcoal firewood and in turn was given the black tongue for his good deeds and the monk blessed him generously with protection.

When the world was being created the Chow dog was allowed to lick up all the little pieces of blue sky which fell on the earth when the stars were set in their places. "The Chow said Li Fu, and that's how he got his blue tongue".

The last story comes not from China but from its near neighbor Japan. Long, long ago in old Japan a samurai was traveling through a strange province. He was crossing a rugged mountainous area when darkness fell. It would have been unwise to spend the night in the open for fear of lions or wolves, so just then as the sun was setting, he hurried into the only building he could find, a tumbledown ruined temple. It did not give much protection but he climbed up a ruined buttress, spread out his blanket and tried to sleep. Just before midnight he was awakened by a dreadful, unearthly howling noise. Peering down he saw in the moonlight hundreds and hundreds of cats of all shapes colors and sizes. Straining to understand their blood-curdling howling, the samurai thought he could recognize a phrase over and over again. Tell it not to Shippeitaro!

Who or what can Shippeitaro mean wondered the samurai. Suddenly the cats turned tail and vanished. The next day the samurai traveled on and in the nearby village he met with people who were wailing with grief. They were weeping because that night they had to take the fairest maiden in the village to the ruined temple where she would be eaten by the evil spirits. These evil spirits were seen in the form of wild cats. The samurai asked who or what was Shippietaro? Shippeitaro is a dog, fine dogs. He is brave and strong, yet gentle with children and he belongs to the head man, our prince. At this the samurai departed. But an hour later he returned leading the dog Shippeitaro on a lead of plaited leather. Shippeitaro was a golden color, with a purple tongue, that we call a chow. The samurai put shippeitaro into the cage instead of the maiden and he and four young men carrying the cage set of for the temple. Midnight came and the howling cats rose to a horrible crescendo.....There was a crash as Shippeitaro beat the door open in his impatience to b out, and sudden flash of gold as the gallant dog shot like an arrow from a bow and grabbed the great tomcat firmly in his jaws. The down leaped the samurai and with a great cry swept the giant tomcat's hear from its shoulders with one mighty swing of his two-handed sword. The other cats were so astonished that they forgot to run away and shippeitaro son put and end to them - When the villages heard this all their tears were forgotten and praise and thanksgiving were universal the greatest praise of all going to Shippeitaro, the bravest dog in all Japan!

Last but not least, one of my favorite poems for the ones we loved and lost.

For you Tara -

If Tears Could Build A Stairway

If tears could build a stairway
And memories were a lane
We would walk right up to Heaven
And bring you back again

No farewell words were spoken
No time to say goodbye
You were gone before we knew it
And only God knows why

Our hearts still ache in sadness
And secret tears still flow
What it meant to lose you
No on will ever know

But know we know you want us
To mourn for you no more
To remember all the happy times
Life still has much in store

Since you’ll never be forgotten
We pledge to you today
A hallowed place within our hearts
Is where you’ll always stay

Author Unknown

Just one more entry

It's been 8 days since Tara left us and I needed to take this opportunity to compose one more entry. I'd first like to say THANK YOU for all the love and support you've given us and for the thoughts and prayers. The e-mails, stars, rosettes, and sympathies have been heartwarming and comforting. Tara was a special little Chow weighing only 36 pounds when she passed away. She was spirited, determined, and dignified. We'll always remember her loving ways and her purple kisses. As a final tribute to the wonderful gal she was, we have buried her ashes along with a newly planted Royal Red Maple tree in her memory. The purple foliage all summer long will be like purple kisses from heaven. I've updated the profile to include the picture of her tree.

Tara's memory will live on forever in the hearts of those who knew her. We still miss you dearly Tara.


Tara says thank you Pufulet for her beautiful new wings :)

My last entry

Tara passed away this morning at 6:37 AM with me and my husband by her side.

We were just getting up for church and as Tara started to wake up, her heart gave out. We were right by her side and were getting ready to rush her to the ER, but she passed away very quickly and we believe very peacefully.

Thank you to all her friends who prayed for her. She's earned her wings and has flown straight to the Rainbow's Bridge to be with her best friend Sandi.

My coughing is easing up

So my cough is a little better, but I'm still feeling pretty cruddy. I'm quite lethargic and still not eating well. I did manage to keep a few bites down last night, so that was good news. I'm hoping that I'll feel like eating tonight and regain my strength to start feeling better. I've had wonderful support from my friends at STAFU and Schitzo has been sending extra prayers since he knows exactly how I feel. Thanks Schitzo, my paws are crossed for you, too! I hope you continue to stay healthy and keep proving the Dogtors wrong. I know I've surprised all of mine. BOL

It's gonna be a hot humid week. Not what I need, but I'm gonna give it all I have. Thank Dog for the AC (and that's not animal control .... BOL)

Love and purple kisses,
Tara

It's one of those days

I don't know if it's been the heat or the humidity, but it just isn't my day. Yesterday I started to feel a little off and had a lot of trouble getting comfortable. The Dogtor said the humom could increase my daily lasix so that is what we are trying right now. If it doesn't help she said I can increase it even more. The meds are damaging to my kidneys, but the alternative is to suffer with labored breathing. I've been thinking to myself that it's really rough getting old. I'm always tired and don't hear very well. My bones ache and I live with a couple young whipper snappers, but I've been around the block and I feel the love of my family. I've been so fortunate to be loved by the same family my whole life. The rest of my furfamily can't say that. I'm counting my blessing and I'm trying my hardest to fight this darned CHF once again. I've been given lots of support and have powerful doggie prayers helping me get through this. Thanks everyone! I'd also like to say thanks for the lovely rosettes and even the pawsoem blue star from The dogster Dog!

XOXOXOXOX
Tara

Still hanging in there

I haven't updated for awhile, but Im still hanging in there!

I'm not enjoying the heat, but the humom has the air on and fans to keep me cool. I'm still on my heart meds and the lasix. I was off the lasix for awhile, but now I have to stay on it daily. The vet wanted me to try every other day, but I quickly started having problems breathing again and had to go back on daily. I'm finally getting my appetite back and that makes me feel better. I want to be strong for my humans and be with them for as long as I can. Just like everyone, I have my good days and my bad days. I'm feeling OK today and the teperature is cooler today. The cooler days are much appreciated.

Feel free to keep my in your doggie thoughts and prayers.

Tara

Contest over :(

My photo contest has ended early for me. Toby and I were disqualified. Terry's is donating a $5.00 GC to Katann Chow Rescue in my name though and some of my friends have also donated to help my cause. I just wanted to raise awareness for rescue and give a little in the process. Thank you to everyone who voted for me. It meant so much to me. I may be old, but I know love when I feel it.

Hanging in there

I'm stable for now so the vet adjusted my heart medications. She wants to try to minimize the risk of damaging my kidneys. I'm now on heart meds twice a day and lasix every other day. I go back to the vet yet again next week for more blood work and x-rays. I love my vet but this is getting out of control. I know they are all just trying to help though. If next weeks visit goes well, maybe I'll get a month or so off. My photo contest is going well. Please keep voting for me! Mom is donating my prize to Chow Rescue and then taking me to McDonalds for a treat! I got a double Cheesburger after my vet visit on Wednesday! I guess there is some benefit to all these office visits. Thanks! Here is my contest link.

http://home.earthlink.net/~w0dfi/contest.html

Would you please vote for me?

Hi cyber pups! I'm in a photo contest and could use all the help I can get! The prize is a Gift Certificate for Petsmart and I'm donating it to Katann Chow rescue located in MN if I should be the winner. I have always been in a loving home, but there are Chows out there that aren't as lucky as I have been. I am blessed to have had a forever home for my entire life and mom says she has been equally blessed. My contest runs from April 2, 2007 through the end of the month. Please visit and cast a vote for me. Here is the link for you to copy and paste. Thanks again and please continue to keep good thoughts for me as I'm still not feeling well. I see the vet again on Monday (the same day the voting starts) :)


http://home.earthlink.net/~w0dfi/contest.html

Thank You Cookie

Thank you for my star Cookie, Callie, Charley, Alex, and Max. Oh, OK thank you Casey and Little E, too! I won't discriminate against the kitties!! It means a lot to me.

Also, thank you to my anonymous star giver, Buster Bear. You guys are great!