11th Place Never Looked So Cute! - Dogs in Chinese Culture
Hello Tea Friends!
Everyone has a favorite kind of adorable companion, whether it’s something loud and energetic, scaly, slimy, or just downright indifferent to your existence (looking at you, cat lovers!). One of my personal favorite things to do is curl up on the couch with a hot cup of tea and my Daisy for some cozy cuddles—especially on a chilly day. She’s the best little leg warmer while I write!
(friendly reminder, only one of these is tea friendly)
With the recent launch of the Dog Subscription Box, my curiosity got the best of me. What kind of influence have our canine friends had on Chinese culture over the centuries? I hope you enjoy this little charcuterie board of doggy facts I found!
Dog Zodiac
The Chinese Zodiac follows a repeating 12-year cycle, with each year dedicated to a specific animal. People born in those years are said to share specific personality traits of their birth animal. Those born in the Year of the Dog, for instance, are said to be honest, loyal, ready to help, and friendly—pretty much what you’d expect from our lovable pups. (It’s also rumored they can be stubborn, selfish, or even a bit eccentric! Sounds like my beagle all right.)
I find it fascinating how these zodiac signs are said to have originated. There’s a fun tale about it—though the details vary depending on who’s telling the story: The Jade Emperor summoned all the animals for a race, hoping to create some sort of calendar for his people to keep track of time. The first twelve animals to reach the gate would each be assigned a zodiac year, based on the order they finished. Each animal had its own approach to reaching the gate, from acts of kindness to clever tricks, and some got a bit sidetracked along the way.
This was the case for Dog, who started out as a strong contender—fast and powerful, and able to swim across the final river. But that crystal-clear water was just too tempting, and Dog got sidetracked playing in the river. In the end, he secured a solid 11th place, which is why the 11th year in the cycle is dedicated to the dog.
Unique Breeds
I loved discovering just how many reliable and lovable dog breeds originated in China over the centuries! Here are a few that really stood out during my research:
(Qing Dynasty woman with 4 Pekingese dogs)
Pekingese - The more I read about these little furballs, the more I understood their distinct personalities. The Pekingese (北京狗) is one of the oldest dog breeds, commonly seen alongside the Chinese nobility in ancient times. Dating back to the Shu Dynasty, they were actually originally bred for religious reasons. With Buddhism rising in popularity, lions became important symbols. The monks discovered a problem though; There were no lions in China. Using the smallest, furriest dogs they could find, they began the process of trying to breed their own fierce little creature to represent them. Soon, the Pekingese was born! These tiny lion-like pups became sacred symbols that were owned by the imperial family, and harming or stealing one was a capital offense. Empress Dowager Cixi, in particular, was known for her love for these little creatures. Eventually, these puppies made their way to the West, thanks to the British.
Chow Chow - These little cuties are known for fluffy manes, sturdy builds, and blue-black tongues. They are believed to have originated from other indigenous dogs in China quite some time ago, and were remarked upon for their strength. Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty is said to have trained thousands of them as hunting and guard dogs for the Imperial Palace. A legend describes them as an army of “black-tongued lions.” There are even records of them pulling dog sleds through murky terrain! Truly dependable, even up to modern times.
(the more traditional "bone mouth" style Shar Pei vs. the more modern "meat mouth" style)
Shar Pei - Who doesn’t love a wrinkly puppy? These loyal dogs are well known as intelligent guardians, boasting strong bodies. While the exact origins of the Shar Pei (沙皮) are unclear, statues resembling them have been found in South China, dating back to the Han Dynasty. They nearly went extinct in the 20th century, but thanks to an appeal by a man named Matgo Law, they were saved. The number of them was so few that when the effort to save them started, a lot of cross breeding occurred, (This is actually where the wrinkles came from! They used to be much smoother.) Now, you’ll see Shar Peis in a variety of shapes and sizes! You can get an idea of which type of Shar Pei you’re looking at by the distinctive features around their mouths and snouts.
Tiangou 天狗
(TianGou 天狗 drawing from the Classics of Mountains and Seas 山海经）
If you know a bit about the Mid-Autumn Festival (or you read Angel’s blog post about it!) you might be familiar with the legend of Chang’e. But did you know this legend is also connected to the myth of why eclipses happen?
Hou Yi was the mythical archer who shot down 9 suns so that we could have the perfect amount of light during the day for life to thrive. Hou Yi’s wife, Chang’e, took a pill that granted her immortality and ascended to the heavens, settling on the moon forever. However, a bit of the pill fell, and a black dog raised by Hou Yi licked it up. This rambunctious pup then chased Chang’e, growing bigger and bigger all the while! Chang’e was so scared she hid behind the moon, and the enormous dog ended up swallowing the whole thing. This caused an eclipse. When the Queen Mother of the West found this out, she immediately went and captured the dog. When she figured out that the dog was Hou Yi’s (and after what I can only imagine was a lot of coaxing to “Drop it!”) the dog spat out the moon and Chang’e. The Queen Mother of the West then gave the dog the name Tiangou and assigned it to guard the gates of the Heavens. I don’t think I’ll ever look at an eclipse the same way.
That’s all I’ve got for today! Also, I think a little introduction is needed. I’m Mickey, a fellow tea lover and friendly lurker on Jesse’s Teahouse Discord. I’m still a newbie to, well, all of this! Since I have way too many questions (and my dear friends at the Teahouse are busy people), I’ve been given this chance to share my research journey with you all. But for now, I should probably sweep my kitchen... wouldn’t want my beagle to accidentally eat the moon, right?
Until next time- Happy Steeping!
-Mickey
P.S. Come join the Discord! You never know when your questions might spark my next deep dive.