Caravan trails through Central Asia, also known as “Silk Trade Route,” became very important roads for commerce between China and Europe. The camel caravans carried tea, porcelain, amethyst, gold, silver and dogs to the bazaars in the Near East. There is evidence that Chinese silk was exchanged for animals and animal products during this time. The pet dogs were especially those which the Eastern Roman Empire and Greece were famous for owning.
Tibet developed in the late sixth century and had no recorded history prior to the seventh century from an area ruled by several tribal confederations into an extremely powerful Buddhist kingdom. Earlier magical animistic rites were incorporated in later Buddhism religious practices. The two queens, wives of Song-Tsen Gam-po (the most important king of the Tibetan dynasty) are jointly credited for introducing Buddhism into Tibet.
The second king of Tibet was a champion of Buddhism. His name was Khri-slon-Ide-Brtsan. He established the great Temple of Bsan-Yas and from this time on a primitive form of Buddhism was the court religion.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the incarnate lama system developed.
The Tibetan Lion Dogs’ history and attitudes are closely interwoven with the tenets of Buddhism. The first recorded importation was in A.D. 87. The Tibetan Lion Dogs were frequently imported as presents and tributes to the Chinese imperial court. During this time, the Chinese and the Tibetan lamas bred their toy dogs to as closely as they could to the Spirit Lion and not the “Dog-Lion.” The Dog-Lion was considered inferior. Spiritually, Buddhism recognizes no real difference between dog and man. The Buddhist cycle is as follows: the spirit of man passes into the form of a dog and thereby created a closer relationship.
The popularity of the small Lion Dog at the imperial courts seems to have been because they had been gifts from Tibetan religious leaders or they were spoils of war common to both the East and West. People from the East and West liked the small Lion Dogs. One Chinese scholar suggested that sending Lion Dogs to Chinese emperors by the Tibetans was a symbol of presenting lions to Wen Shu Buddha (which I suppose in their context meant something wonderful, powerful or sacred).
The Shih Tzu was often referred to as the “Lion Dog.”
Source: The Complete Shih Tzu by Victor Joris
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