DOGS OF CHINA AND JAPAN 



to a trite saying. That most frequently found is perhaps the 

 following : 



This motif symbolizes the superiority of man's wit over 

 brute force, and conveys an antithesis such as that found in 

 the English proverb, " The pen is mightier than the sword." 



This is usually represented by a pair of " Pekingese " dogs 

 playing together, and forms an appropriate present from a 

 husband to a wife naturally fond of dogs. The idea expressed 

 is " May we live together in united joy." 



The chief hobby of the Emperor Tao Kuang (1821-1850) 

 was the breeding of pigeons. The Empress had a favourite 

 and very celebrated " Pekingese " dog which on account of 

 its colour was named Hsing-erh (apricot) and had a white 

 button upon its forehead. This picture is by far the most 

 frequent in connexion with illustrations of " Pekingese ' 

 dogs, whether on paper, silk or porcelain. It was favoured 

 by loyal Chinese of the Tao Kuang period as flattering the 

 exemplary devotion shown by the Emperor to his wife. The 

 breeding of pigeons is universal in China. The flying of 

 them with whistles attached is almost as much a national 

 pastime in China as the flying of kites. The picture has 

 special appropriateness on account of its being an expression 

 of the other lucky phrase : " Love in heaven : joy on earth." 

 A wish for united blessedness also exists, for the first half 

 of the Chinese character for the word " pigeon " introduces 

 the connotation " fit " or " appropriate ' in the sense of 

 " well-matched." 



Shortly before 1891 the Empress Dowager's chief eunuch, 

 Yin Liu by name, lost his three favourite " Pekingese " dogs 

 by a fire which destroyed the house in which they were kept. 

 These dogs were named, Sung To (" pine cone "), a black 

 and white dog ; Chu Yeh (" bamboo leaf "), a red and white 

 or yellow and white dog; and Mei Hua (" plum flower"). 

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