It might be the Year of the Rabbit but at Cultural Keys we’ve been inspired by our two recent rescue dogs, Teddy and Mr. Percy, to look in more detail at the dog in Chinese history, art and legend. Each month we’ll look at a different aspect of the dog in traditional Chinese culture as well as introduce you to a few special pups who need your help!
China’s relationship with the dog is a long one. In fact, dogs may have been domesticated in East Asia as long as 25,000 years ago – long before China even existed. It’s well known that China is the home of several famous dog breeds such as the Pekingese and the Chow Chow, but what else do you know about the dog in traditional Chinese culture?
Dogs were kept for three main reasons in ancient China: protection, companionship and as a food source. Some of the earliest depictions of the dog in Ancient China are from the Han Dynasty, showing dogs hunting and guarding the house. Pottery figurines of dogs were placed in tombs with the deceased, suggesting they would accompany them in the afterlife. Archaeological digs on Neolithic sites have revealed dog bones in middens (piles of domestic waste), meaning they were almost certainly being consumed as food.
The dog is the eleventh sign of the Chinese zodiac. According to legend, he could easily have outrun the other animals who beat him, but was late because he stopped to play! People born under the zodiac sign of the dog are not only loyal, but honest, popular and stubborn too.
The dog is not one of the most common subjects of Chinese art, but it does appear in bronze work, ceramics and paintings. Some of the earliest depictions of dogs are found on late Zhou Dynasty bronzes. Many of the ceramic figurines of dogs found are from tombs as mentioned above. Dogs were the subject of some Ming and Qing dynasty paintings, most famously by the Italian Painter Guiseppe Castiglione, who painted ten of Emperor Qianlong’s dogs in his typical style, fusing Western and Chinese painting styles.
Dogs appear in some of China’s legends. For example, eclipses were explained as the sun being eaten by Tiangou, the ‘heavenly dog’. Some ethnic groups in China have as their origin myth the story of Panhu, who helped win a battle and was rewarded with the emperor’s daughter.
Find out much more about the dog in Chinese culture in our article series, coming soon!
Aside from sharing information about the dog in Chinese history, we also hope these pieces can serve as a gateway to helping dogs in modern China too! With every article we’ll introduce you to a few pups in need of your love and support. In the majority of cases these won’t be our rescues so do please contact the rescuer in question for more information about these dogs in need!
Introducing Teddy
Teddy is a one year old male toy poodle. His hind quarters are permanently paralysed due to a broken spine, so he gets around inside by dragging himself with his front legs and outside with a wheelchair. He is an extremely intelligent and affectionate little guy who loves to be with people and other dogs, and is interested in everything! He is fully vaccinated (not neutered as that isn’t an issue given his condition).
Introducing Mr. Percy
Mr. Percy is a 6-7 year old stray toy poodle. He was found in late January 2023 with extremely matted hair and suffering from hypothermia. He has been shaved and neutered and once he recovers from his operation will be ready for his vaccinations and a new home. He is a quiet boy who loves being held and might have been a monkey in a previous life as he loves climbing things!
Both Teddy and Mr. Percy are available for adoption in China. Adoptions in the UK or the USA might be possible too. Please contact us using the information on the poster below for more details!
See the second article in the series here: The Dog in Traditional Chinese Paintings
What do you know about the dog in Chinese culture? What would you like to know? Let us know in the comments below. We would love to hear your thoughts and insights on traditional Chinese culture!
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About Cultural Keys Chinese Culture Company
Cultural Keys helps you access, understand and enjoy life in China through traditional Chinese culture. Click here to read more about Cultural Keys and what we can do for you, your school, company or group to help you get more out of your time in China!