| In the Pavillion of Green Ripples in the Imperial Garden, | | | | "one" of my favorites of all time. There is strong |
| Forbidden City, Beijing (formerly Peking), China, ShihTzu | | | | indication that the ShihTzu developed in China from |
| romped with each other, the enunchs, and the | | | | ancient lines of dogs of Tibet. One theory is that these |
| Empress and her attendants. Shih Tzu was a highly | | | | ancestors of the modern Shih Tzu were presented by |
| valued companion of the Palace. The Summer Palace, | | | | Tibetan Lamas to royal visitors from Chinese courts |
| Peking (now called Beijing), was where the Dowager | | | | and taken by them back to Peking, where they were |
| Empress ruled her Empire during the summer months. | | | | nurtured and cherished as prized possessions of the |
| Her Shih Tzu and favorite attendants resided in the | | | | emperors, and members of the court. Another theory |
| Summer Palace throughout her annual stay. An | | | | is that the Shih Tzu were exchanged by royal |
| American was actually among the very first to receive | | | | travelers and merchants who were of many cultures |
| a Shih Tzu as a gift from the Dowager Empress. | | | | and societies traveling along that segment of the |
| Sarah Conger, wife of American Minister to China | | | | ancient "Silk Trade Route" that runs in a generally west |
| Edwin H. Conger, received the Shih Tzu from the | | | | to east route from Lhasa, Tibet, to Peking (now known |
| Dowager Empress in 1903. Centuries ago when East | | | | as Beijing), China. All Oriental dogs, which would include |
| met West on the Ancient Silk Trade Route various | | | | the Shih Tzu, had forms which were quite similar, and |
| Maltese type dogs were mated with Oriental type | | | | was a direct result of the influence of Buddhism. The |
| dogs. The white Shih Tzu is a "throwback" result from | | | | Lion was said to have been Buddha's constant |
| the genetic influence of infusion of Maltese bloodlines. I | | | | companion and on several occasions saved him from |
| have one Shih Tzu who resembles a Maltese and is | | | | death or capture by his enemies. Because the Chinese |
| solid white. Her name is Blondie. Blondie's pedigree | | | | considered the lion symbolic of Buddha, they used "the |
| states all Shih Tzu. I have had people to ask me if | | | | King of the Beasts" as a model for breeding their dogs. |
| Blondie was Maltese. There is only one known photo | | | | Among the Oriental dogs produced are the Shih Tzu, |
| of the Dowager Empress with any of Shih Tzu. The | | | | the Pekingese, the Chow Chow, the Lhasa Apso, the |
| photo was taken in a Courtyard scene in 1903 with her | | | | Spitz, and the Pug. The lion, as a model for our Shih |
| ladies in waiting. Various eunuchs are on either side of | | | | Tzu, was not native to China, so early Chinese had |
| the Princess. Chief Eunuch Li Lein-Yang helped guide | | | | little concept as to what the lion looked like. It is most |
| the Shih Tzu breeding program and is pictured with the | | | | likely early Chinese sculptors carved lions from |
| Dowager Empress. At the Empress' feet is Hai Ling | | | | descriptions received about the beasts, and that the |
| (Sea Otter), a solid black Shih Tzu, the Empress | | | | Chinese dogs, including our Shih Tzu, were bred to look |
| favorite, who sired many Shih Tzu of various colors | | | | like the statues rather than like lions themselves. This |
| within the Palace. This black Shih Tzu reminds me very | | | | article is FREE to publish with resource box. |
| much of my own solid black Shih Tzu, Duke. Duke has | | | | Connie Limon. Visit us at and sign up for our |
| also sired many of the Stain Glass Shih Tzu puppies | | | | newsletters. I raise Shih Tzu puppies for pets or show |
| and of various colors. I also have to admit my Duke is | | | | prospects. Puppies are sold with a health guarantee. |