PREFACE
The assistance received from Chinese and Japanese literature has been but slight, for though from the earliest days Eastern Emperors and their subjects have recognized the qualities of the dog—
in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart is still his master's own,
Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,[1]
no Eastern writer has thought fit to devote a volume to study of the species. Almost every Chinese and every Japanese is fond of pets individually, bird, insect, or canine; but for dogs generally the same individual is apt to manifest contempt.
Absence of European specialization and training of the breeds has deprived the Chinese and Japanese of enjoyment of those particular canine qualities which have for centuries given much of the zest of life to the sportsman in Europe and, moreover, provide no small interest to the soldier, fowler, trainer, shepherd, and breeder.
From certain State papers it has been possible to show that from very early periods the dog has been used extensively by European and Eastern monarchs as State presents. The emperors and kings of the past prided themselves on their success in adapting dogs to the varied uses of the chase, and this success, which fell in no small measure to British trainers, was utilized on many occasions for the promoting of friendly intercourse with foreign countries.
The culture of Japan, including much of its religion and art, has its origin in China. The scantiness of literature dealing with Japanese dogs is, consequently, compensated to some extent by the comparative wealth of Chinese sources of information. The two chapters dealing with the Buddhist lion and its symbolism represent a considerable amount
- ↑ Inscription on the monument to a Newfoundland dog. Byron.
