# Dog

犬 inu

![Dog](https://www.furoshiki.com/motifs/inu.svg)

Dogs give birth easily, so dog motifs are charms for safe childbirth and the protection of children.

Medieval birthing-room charms; Day of the Dog custom

Because dogs give birth easily and to large litters, dog figures were used as charms for safe childbirth, from Muromachi-period inubako in noble birthing rooms to the Edo papier-mâché inu-hariko. The same belief lies behind visiting a shrine on a Day of the Dog (inu no hi), which comes every 12 days, in the fifth month of pregnancy to pray for a safe birth and put on a maternity sash (obi-iwai).

The Day of the Dog shrine visit is still very widely kept.

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Source: https://www.furoshiki.com/motifs/inu/