The Breed Created by Buddha
Courtesy of the American Kennel Club Library and Archives
The Pekingese is a breed of toy dog, originating in China. The breed was favored by royalty of the Chinese Imperial court as a companion dog, and its name refers to the city of Peking where the Forbidden City is located. According to a Chinese legend, the Pekingese was created by the Buddha, in his attempt to shrink a lion down to dog size. And, many would say that he had succeeded. The Peke was likely bred down to toy size from a larger dog, probably not a lion, and probably not by the Buddha, himself, but by his earthly servants.
For many centuries, Chinese nobles were preoccupied with the breeding of these flat-faced lapdogs. The Peke, Pug, and Shih Tzu are surviving samples of their handiwork. The Pekingese's flat face and large eyes are some of the breed's most obvious characteristics. Unlike other breeds, it could only be owned by members of the Chinese Imperial Palace. By the late 1890s, Pekes had arrived in America, and were registered by the AKC in 1906.
