El pekingese It is one of the most striking small breeds, thanks to its long coat, large eyes, and graceful appearance. Its birth is located in Southeast Asia, being closely linked to interesting legends of the area, and its history is full of curious details. In this article we make a small summary of it.
Origin and life in Beijing
It is a Southeast Asian native breed, being considered a descendant of the legendary shaggy dogs of Tibet. The first documents associated with the Pekingese date from the XNUMXth century, some engravings of the imperial court of China, during the Tang dynasty. According to an old legend of the area, the Pekingese was born from the union between a lion and a monkey, which would explain its appearance and its proud and brave character.
Legends aside, this dog quickly became a highly valued pet by the Buddhist religion and aristocratic families. The figure of the Empress Tzu Hsi, affectionately known as "Old Buddha", who was dedicated to raising small breed dogs, ending the old custom of administering drugs to maintain their size. It was she who established the first rules to determine her patron and hardened the law, condemning to death anyone who robbed or harmed a Pekingese. And in the time of Confucius (749 BC,) this dog was used for small game hunting.
Arrival in Great Britain
The call Arrow War It was also an event closely linked to the history of the pekingese. In 1860 there was an attack by the British on Beijing, invading its imperial home and robbing, with it, five Pekingese. One of them, an extraordinarily small female named Looty, was gifted to Queen Victoria, and the other four to different personalities of the aristocracy and royalty.
The Pekingese in the United States
It would not be until the beginning of the XNUMXth century, with the end of the Boxer Rebellion, that this dog arrived in the United States. Empress Tzu Hsi presented some copies to several American ladies, including Alice, Theodore Roosevelt's daughter. There was also a small percentage of smuggling.
In 1091 the first specimen of the breed was exhibited in the USA, called Peking, and professional breeders had already taken an interest in it. A little later, in 1906, the American Kennel Club began registering, and in 1909 the Pekingese Club of America, with which the Pekingese acquired great fame. It is currently a common pet in a good number of countries.