| Far away in Tibet, a country with a recorded history | | | | only artistic works of the animal, which were often |
| going back almost 1,500 years is where our Shih Tzu | | | | somewhat fantastical. We cannot be sure whether |
| began. The country was noted for its devotion to | | | | the Lion Dogs were bred to resemble the drawings |
| Buddhism. | | | | and statues of the symbolic lions or if the artists |
| Some of the tallest mountains in the world edge the | | | | created their 'lions' in the likeness of the little dogs |
| country of Tibet. Winters in Tibet are severe with | | | | (ancestors to our Shih Tzu). |
| temperatures to 14 degrees F in December. The | | | | The snow lion was called Gang Seng and was |
| winds in Tibet are strong and biting with hard frosts. | | | | considered to be so powerful that he could cause |
| Snowfall is light. In the summer, daylight | | | | seven dragons to fall out of the sky with one roar. |
| temperatures reach a maximum of 75 degrees F | | | | The symbolic lion was believed to have the ability to |
| with a sharp drop in temperature at night. | | | | walk in the clouds. He could also speak with the voice |
| Throughout most of the year there is sunshine and | | | | of truth and fearlessness. |
| the air is dry and pure. | | | | Tibet was a difficult place to get to. China was a |
| The people of this remote and rather mysterious | | | | neighbor to Tibet. Gifts from Tibet to China were |
| land of Tibet were like so many other cultures in our | | | | sent as tribute to the Chinese emperors, among |
| world. They kept dogs in a domestic environment. | | | | which were Tibetan Lion Dogs (ancestor to our Shih |
| There were large dogs used for guarding and small, | | | | Tzu). |
| shaggy dogs used as companions and as watch-dogs | | | | These little dogs traveled with the caravans on long |
| to alert the larger dogs. These small dogs were the | | | | journeys from one country to the other. A small |
| ancestors of our Shih Tzu. The history of the Shih | | | | army of eunuchs took care of the little dogs. The |
| Tzu, however, is steeped in myth and legends, which | | | | little Tibetan Lion Dogs (ancestors to our Shih Tzu) |
| makes it difficult to sort the true facts of our Shih | | | | adapted well as they have continued to do wherever |
| Tzu. | | | | they have gone to live through the centuries. |
| One tale in particular, which I find interesting, is that | | | | In China, everything must have been very different |
| of the small Lion Dogs were trained to turn the | | | | from Tibet. The summers in Peking were warm and |
| prayer wheels as part of the daily ritual in the | | | | humid with a lot of rain. The winters were very cold, |
| monasteries. There was a belief that those monks | | | | somewhat like Tibet, with temperatures as low as 0 |
| whose life had been less than exemplary, would in | | | | degrees F in January. It is recorded that the little |
| accordance with the Buddhist theory of reincarnation, | | | | Tibetan Lion Dogs settled in and became great |
| be reborn as one of the temple dogs. | | | | favorites of the Manchu emperors. |
| Buddhism in Tibet recognized a large number of divine | | | | Most likely they were interbred with the short-faced |
| beings. Each being symbolized an aspect of life. One | | | | Chinese breeds - the Chinese Pug and the Pekinese, |
| was Buddha Manjusri, the God of Learning. The God | | | | which is probably what gives the Shih Tzu the |
| of Learning was said to travel with a small Lion Dog | | | | characteristics that differentiate them from the |
| (ancestor to our Shih Tzu) that could turn into a | | | | Tibetan Lion Dogs that later became the Lhasa |
| full-sized lion and carry him vast distances on his back. | | | | Apsos. |
| Oddly enough, there were no actual lions in Tibet, | | | | |