Foo Creatures (Lion/Dog) for D&D

The kid got the Wondrous Figurine, think Guenhwyvar of Drizzt. It's an oriental east Asian style Foo monster (might be more Thai styled). We'll say he can ride it or just use it for attacks. I'm now realizing the cover of Oriental Adventures shows a Kirin, not a Foo Lion-dog. 

Sidenote, (I love my tangents), the word "foo" is very very likely from Cantonese/ Hong Kong tradition... as it was pretty prevalent in the US and UK in the 1970s (well I'm thinking from a D&D perspective, but those names are probably way the heck older, so what am I talking about?). But these cool statues in real life are all over East Asia apparently. Definitely in China, Korea(?), and Japan. And I suspect versions also in Vietnam, Thailand, Burmese myth, etc. Here, let's see what they say here: https://theartofzen.org/are-foo-dogs-chinese-or-japanese/ Even better, check out what Nippon.com has to say: 

The ultimate origins of these lionlike figures probably extend back to ancient India or even Egypt, but the more immediate source would appear to be Chinese. Guardian lions and other divine beasts were probably imported from Tang China, along with Buddhism, via the Korean Peninsula, accounting for their alternate name, kōrai-inu, or Korean dogs. (No extant prototypes have been found in Korea.)

However, this site says the lion-like statues (with big scales... and kinda different looking, UPDATE they are said to be Goatlike with Scales so nevermind) have existed in some places in South Korea: http://www.favekorea.com/haechi/?ckattempt=1   and 

Haechi is a stone statue that sits on the left and the right in front of Gwanghwamun Gate. It is an imaginary animal that punishes a person who tells a lie with a horn when judging a quarrel. It has many different names such as Haetae, Sinyang, Sikjae, and Haeta. In Korea, two kinds of Haechi are found: one with horns on the top of the head and the other one with no horns. ... ... In the diary of Seungjeongwon(the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat), there is a record of Haechi in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace. 

 

Other site: In Korean folklore, the haetae is a scaled goat-like creature that was believed to know right from wrong, and helped pass judgement on guilty and innocent parties. It may sometimes be known as haitai or haechi.... It is called kaichi (獬豸) in Japanese mythology

BACK TO D&D STATS, ETC.

Here's a nice 5e home brew statblock, really nice: https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Foo_Lion_(5e_Creature) 

REAL LIFE: 

• Yokai[dot]com says a lot about them being guardians to shrines (mistakenly says temples also) and plenty more: https://yokai.com/komainu/ , wikipedia seems to have more accurate info. 
• Often called Komainu. The ones in Japan have only been at Shrines. When walking through Torii, you enter another dimension~~~.

Oh, that's a Kirin on the front... just now re-realized. Anyway, funnily enough, the Oriental Adventures doesn't have the foo creatures, but it tells you to go to the MM2.

Torii, gate to another realm. As in, really, that's what people say... you go into a different world when you step through. If it was European, you'd say you were stepping into the faery realm or something.  

Foo Creature, the AD&D 1e MM2 pg. 65 says:

This SRD version is nice too, many spells abilities: https://www.5esrd.com/database/creature/foo-lion/

Foo Lion (5e Creature) (via the Homebrew site)

Foo Lion

Large celestial, chaotic good Armor Class 13 (natural armor) Hit Points 52 (8d10 + 8) Speed 50 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 17 (+3) 15 (+2) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) Skills Insight +3, Perception +3, Stealth +4 Senses passive Perception 13 Languages Celestial, Common Challenge 2 (450 XP) Keen Smell. The foo lion has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell. Pack Tactics. The foo lion has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the foo lion's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated. Pounce. If the foo lion moves at least 20 feet straight towards a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the foo lion can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action. Running Leap. With a 10-foot running start, the foo lion can long jump up to 25 feet. Magic Resistance. The foo lion has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. Magic Weapons. The foo lion's weapon attacks are magical. Divine Fang. The foo lion's weapon attacks deal an extra 1d8 radiant damage against fiends. Innate Spellcasting. The foo lion's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma. It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components: At will: detect evil and good, invisibility 1/day each: etherealness, plane shift (self only) ACTIONS Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage. Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage. Celestial Summoning (1/Day). [We changed this to be, powers up to double HP for one fight.] The foo lion can begin roaring to summon another foo animal. At the beginning of the foo lion's next turn there is a 40 percent chance that a foo animal of CR 2 or less will be summoned. The summoned foo animal appears in an unoccupied space within 60 feet of its summoner, acts as an ally of its summoner, and can't summon other foo animals. It remains for 1 minute, until it or its summoner dies, or until its summoner dismisses it as an action.