DOGS OF CHINA AND JAPAN 



1859, which have become possible on account of modern 

 improvements in transport. That the Chinese should have 

 been able to secure high specialization of breed in pigeons, 

 goldfish, lap-dogs and cats is a strong testimony to their 

 realization of the importance of selection at a time when skill 

 in the same art was less developed in Europe. 



Development of the breeds of Pekingese dogs probably 

 owes more to the efforts of the palace eunuchs than to those 

 of their Imperial masters. An Emperor such as Tao Kuang 

 and his consort would, by their enthusiasm for breeding 

 pigeons and dogs, set the fashion, and the eunuchs, more 

 than a thousand in number, living in the " Forty-eight 

 Places " of the palace, would vie with one another in endea- 

 vouring to breed to the standards set up, with a view to 

 securing either favour from their superiors by presentation 

 of good specimens, or profit from officials similarly inclined, 

 by sale. 



Shows, breeding to closely defined points, and the keeping 

 of careful pedigrees, have never existed in China. The only 

 recognized standards to which dogs have been bred are 

 those contained in the dog-books of each Imperial master, as 

 painted by the Court painters. Very few of these books 

 have been allowed to leave the Imperial and princes' palaces. 

 Each Emperor caused illustrations of his favourite dogs to be 

 made by the Court painters in books or on scrolls, and in 

 this way was set the current fashion in breeding. The 

 highest compliment a Chinese breeder in Peking can give is 

 to judge that a specimen is good enough to "go into the 

 book," that is to say, into an Imperial dog-book. Such of 

 these books as have been obtained portray dogs closely 

 resembling the " Pekingese " type, as also the " Shih-tzu " 

 dog and the " Pug." 



The old belief recorded of Jacob when he " took him rods 



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