What is a Tlalchichi?
Dog of the earth — a millenary tradition from Colima
The term "Tlalchichi" comes from the Nahuatl "tlalli" (earth) and "chichi" (dog), meaning "dog of the earth." This word is used in the state of Colima, Mexico, to refer to the famous pre-Hispanic ceramic figures representing dogs, created by the ancient cultures that inhabited western Mexico.
Colima Tlalchichis are much more than simple clay figurines: they represent one of the most important artistic and spiritual expressions of the pre-Hispanic cultures of western Mexico. These unique pieces have transcended millennia and are now recognized worldwide as icons of pre-Columbian art.
Key Facts
Nahuatl name
Tlalchichi (tlalli + chichi)
Translation
Dog of the earth
Region
State of Colima, Mexico
Period
300 BC — 400 AD
Associated culture
Shaft Tomb Tradition
Spiritual Meaning
Mesoamerican cultures believed that dogs represented guides for the souls of the dead. The ceramic Tlalchichis placed in tombs had a fundamental function: to accompany and guide the soul of the deceased through the dangers of Mictlán, the Aztec underworld.
According to Mexica mythology, the god Xólotl created the xoloitzcuintle from a splinter of the Bone of Life. The sacred mission of these dogs was to guide their owners through the nine levels of the underworld until reaching eternal rest.
Our Mission
Share the Tlalchichi culture of Colima with the world through accessible high-quality PET plastic replicas.
Our Process
Each replica is made from high-resistance PET plastic, capturing the details of the original Tlalchichi figures from Colima.