History of the Pekingese Breed
The Pekingese breed can be traced to China as far back as 2000 B.C. For many centuries this revered breed could only be owned by the Chinese emperor, whose custom was to select four Pekingese to become his bodyguards'. Royal processions would see them holding the train of his robe as they walked behind his royal presence, while two walked in front of the Emperor, heralding his approach with sharp barks at regular intervals. This was a signal for lesser mortals to turn their heads as the emperor passed. At night they lighted processions with the little lanterns that were strapped to their necks. They were regarded so highly by Emperors that some were given titles such as Viceroy or Imperial Guardsmen. To steal a Pekingese or to injure one of them was punishable by death.
In 1860, Allied troops occupying Peking found five Pekingese at the Summer Palace beside an elderly aunt of the Emperor, who had committed suicide rather than be captured. The Pekingese breed owes their existence to the rescue of these five Pekingese. Two were taken by Admiral Lord John Hay, who gave them to his sister, the Duchess of Wellington; Sir George Fitzroy took a pair, and gave them to his cousins, the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Gordon. Lieutenant Dunne presented the fifth Pekingese to Queen Victoria, who called her "Looty." Looty's portrait still hangs in Windsor Castle.
The Empress Dowager Cixi presented Pekingese to several Americans, including John Pierpont Morgan and Alice Lee Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt, who named it Manchu.
The foundation of the breed in England came from the two Pekingese who were given to the Duchess of Richmond. They were given the name 'Goodwood'. In 1896, Mrs. Douglas Murray obtained two beautiful Pekingese, due to her husband's business interests in China, "Ah Cum" and"Mimosa". She joined forces with Lady Algernon Gordon-Lennox and together they produced the first English Champion, "Ch. Goodwood Lo." In 1904, the Pekingese Club of England was founded. At approximately the same time, the Alderbourne Kennel was started by Mrs. Clarice Ashton-Cross and her four daughters on a combination of these first English Pekingese.
It was not until 1898 that the first Pekingese came to America. They were admitted to the A.K.C. registry in 1906.
Sadly, the breed all but disappeared in China with the Empress Dowager's death in 1911, as most Pekingese were killed by court officials in order to prevent anyone outside the Imperial Court from owning one. The few that survived disappeared into private homes without a trace. Pekingese could not be found again in China until 1921, when an effort was made to return breeding stock to China. However, these were again lost during the Communist Revolution.
(Information drawn from Wikipedia)
In 1860, Allied troops occupying Peking found five Pekingese at the Summer Palace beside an elderly aunt of the Emperor, who had committed suicide rather than be captured. The Pekingese breed owes their existence to the rescue of these five Pekingese. Two were taken by Admiral Lord John Hay, who gave them to his sister, the Duchess of Wellington; Sir George Fitzroy took a pair, and gave them to his cousins, the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Gordon. Lieutenant Dunne presented the fifth Pekingese to Queen Victoria, who called her "Looty." Looty's portrait still hangs in Windsor Castle.
The Empress Dowager Cixi presented Pekingese to several Americans, including John Pierpont Morgan and Alice Lee Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt, who named it Manchu.
The foundation of the breed in England came from the two Pekingese who were given to the Duchess of Richmond. They were given the name 'Goodwood'. In 1896, Mrs. Douglas Murray obtained two beautiful Pekingese, due to her husband's business interests in China, "Ah Cum" and"Mimosa". She joined forces with Lady Algernon Gordon-Lennox and together they produced the first English Champion, "Ch. Goodwood Lo." In 1904, the Pekingese Club of England was founded. At approximately the same time, the Alderbourne Kennel was started by Mrs. Clarice Ashton-Cross and her four daughters on a combination of these first English Pekingese.
It was not until 1898 that the first Pekingese came to America. They were admitted to the A.K.C. registry in 1906.
Sadly, the breed all but disappeared in China with the Empress Dowager's death in 1911, as most Pekingese were killed by court officials in order to prevent anyone outside the Imperial Court from owning one. The few that survived disappeared into private homes without a trace. Pekingese could not be found again in China until 1921, when an effort was made to return breeding stock to China. However, these were again lost during the Communist Revolution.
(Information drawn from Wikipedia)
