![]() The Pekingese was particularly popular among wealthy families in the 1600s. Around the 1300s, dog ownership was a way of declaring high status. Dogs as pets in ChinaĮven though dogs symbolize guardianship in Chinese culture, they haven’t always been accepted (or allowed) as pets. Archeologists have identified many dogs in ancient Chinese art, including Chow Chows carved into unearthed sculptures from the Han Dynasty (around 150 B.C.).īasically, if you wanted good fortune for your family and guidance to heaven, you’d better have had a dog to help out. This practice morphed into a tradition of placing straw, stone or jade figures of dogs out front to protect the home and family. ![]() There is evidence that residents of the Banpo Village sacrificed dogs and buried them in front of homes as a way to ward off evil and protect themselves. Because of this, many imperial family members and notable citizens insisted on being buried alongside a dog after they died. Canines were said to offer protection in the afterlife, guiding their owners on their journey, and defend people on earth from ghosts. Many ancient Chinese philosophies state that dogs link the living and the dead. Around the Sui and Tang dynasties (in the early 600s) as Buddhism and Islam became more popular, many people in China stopped eating dog meat.ĭespite this difficult history with canines, dogs are revered in Chinese culture and closely linked with guardianship-in both this world and the next. They survived on grains and vegetables, so dog meat was a handy protein option. Dai Wangyun, a researcher with a doctorate in folklore, says yes, ancient farming communities in China would eat dog meat when necessary. Let’s address the elephant in the room: eating dogs. The villagers worked alongside dogs (cute!) and researchers believe once the dogs became too frail for labor, the villagers would kill them for fur and sustenance (yikes!). According to the World History Encyclopedia, the Banpo Village in China’s Shaanxi Province was full of people and animals from 4500 to 3750 B.C. Initially bred for herding, hunting and transportation, dogs in this part of the world assisted early humans with day-to-day tasks. These findings indicate domesticated dogs likely originated in China. Canine bones have also been discovered in Neolithic (Stone Age) graves and dump sites in China, some of which are 15,000 years old. One 2015 study on canine genomes found dogs from East Asia have the “highest genetic diversity” among native dog groups and are more closely linked to wolves. We have a lot of guesses, but no specifics. Modern humans can’t seem to figure out exactly when our ancient ancestors first began domesticating dogs. One thing they all have in common? Bragging rights as some of the oldest and rarest breeds on earth. Unlike dogs indigenous to Japan and Australia, Chinese dog breeds are much more varied in their temperaments and features. Over time, Chinese dog breeds evolved into family protectors and symbols of good fortune. Based on artifacts and archeological discoveries, scholars have learned that first and foremost, dogs were seen as laborers to early Chinese civilizations. But canines have a more nuanced history in China. This may come as no surprise to many Western cultures who have always seen dogs as lovable buddies. According to the Chinese zodiac, people born in the Year of the Dog are loyal and energetic companions.
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