Donggyeongi
Donggyeongi, also called daeng gyeon (댕견) or Donggyeong gae (동경개), is a bob-tailed dog breed originating in Korea. [1]
Etymology
Donggyeong (동경, 東京) was the name of the capital of the medieval Korean dynasty, Gyeongju.
Appearance
Donggyeong dogs have very short or no tails, which coincide with old records such as Donggyeong Jabgi 《동경잡기(東京雜記)》, Jeungbomunhyunbigo 《증보문헌비고(增補文獻備考)》, as well as excavated clay dolls of the sixth century Silla's capital, Donggyeong.[2] Its face is similar to another natural heritage dog, the Korean Jindo.[3]
History
Donggyeong dogs were easily seen around Gyeongju and were considered to be worth preserving for its national characteristics; however the dogs were slaughtered during the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945) due to their alleged similarity to ‘Komainu’, the figures seen in Japanese royal families or shrines. Jindo breeds, Sapsali dogs and Donggyeong were endangered as they were slaughtered for their skins to be mass-produced for making coats.
After the Liberation of 1945, Donggyeong dogs were despised: their lack of tails were thought to bring bad luck, or were thought to be deformed. Therefore, the number of Donggyeong dogs was drastically decreased. Hybridization with other breeds worsened the situation until breed preservation and designation efforts started.[4]
See also
- Bobtail (disambiguation)[5]
- Old English Sheepdog
- Korean Jindo
- Sapsali
- Nureongi
References
- "동경이 - Google 검색". www.google.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-02-15.
- "동경이".
- "Samgugsagi". www.donggyeong.com. 2012-08-13. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- "경주개 동경이의 문화유산적 가치와 활용". Silla Culture Research Center. Silla Munhwa. 2015-08-03. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- "동경이 - Google 검색". www.google.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-02-15.