| The Chinese Shar Pei was at one time called the | | | | In the 1940s, when the Communist Party came to |
| "Chinese Fighting Dog". It is most likely that it originated | | | | power in China, dogs as pets were considered to be |
| from a cross between the Mastiff and the Chow | | | | "decadent bourgeois luxury" and the breeding of dogs |
| Chow and various indigenous breeds. In actual practice, | | | | for pets was eventually completely banned. Many of |
| the Shar Pei served several purposes.. It was used in | | | | the breeds of China very nearly became extinct during |
| china as a "pit" fighting dog, for entertainment and sport | | | | this period. A few remaining Shar Pei specimens |
| and also as a hunting dog and a herding breed and a | | | | somehow made it out out to the West at some point |
| watchdog. The dog originated, it is believed, in the Han | | | | and the breed has been gaining in popularity ever since. |
| Dynasty and the many statues of that era which | | | | The standard of the breed, as translated from |
| depict the fierce fighting dogs with the scowl on their | | | | Chinese, reads that the head should be "pear-like" and |
| faces are believed to be representations of the Shar | | | | the ears "like a clamshell" . The nose is to be like a |
| Pei. | | | | butterfly, the face like that of a grandma, the legs like |
| The exceedingly loose skin that is the hallmark of the | | | | the shape of a ham, the back like that of the shrimp, |
| breed was its biggest advantage when pitted against | | | | the tail like that of a wire, the body like that of a |
| other dogs, there was so much skin that it was difficult | | | | fish...and so on. Suffice it to say that the Chinese Shar |
| for a dog or any animal for that matter to get a grip or | | | | Pei bears little resemblance to any other breed. Indeed, |
| do serious damage to any vital organs. Eventually their | | | | the wrinkles alone are unique to say nothing of its |
| use as a pit fighting breed diminished, because they | | | | strange looking face. It does possess the dark blue or |
| simply did not ever posses the mentality or attitude to | | | | purple tongue similar to the Chow Chow but that is |
| be a fighter. Most Shar Peis appear, to this day, to be | | | | about the only resemblance. |
| rather disinterested in other animals. | | | | |