The Legend of The Pekingese

According to ancient legend, thousands of years ago, a great lion fell in love with a tiny marmoset. But because of the lion’s great size and the marmoset’s tiny stature, they could not be together. He was simply much too big, and she was much, much too small.

So great was his love for the marmoset that the lion begged the Buddha to make him smaller so that he could marry his beloved. The Buddha, so moved by the lion’s love and devotion to the marmoset, not only agreed but allowed the lion to keep his fearless lion heart.

It is from this union that all Pekingese – the little Lion Dog – are descended.