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The ''Donggyeongi'' (), also called ''daeng gyeon'' (댕견) or ''Donggyeong gae'' (동경개), is a
The ''Donggyeongi'' has a very short or no tail, which is a prominent characteristic distinguished from other dog breeds in Korea. The ''Donggyeongi''s facial features are similar to those of another dog type, the
Spitz breeds Dog breeds originating in Korea Rare dog breeds {{Spitz
naturally bob-tailed
A natural bobtail is an animal's tail which due to a mutated gene grows unusually short or is missing completely. The genes for the shortened tail may be dominant or recessive.
Because of legislation restricting or preventing docking, natural bob ...
dog breed that originated in Korea. It is an endangered breed of some 600 dogs in total and has been protected as a natural heritage
Natural heritage refers to the sum total of the elements of biodiversity, includes flora and fauna, ecosystems and geological structures. It forms part of our natural resources.
Definition
Definitions:
* Natural heritage refers to natural feat ...
in South Korea since 2012 (Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea, number 540).
Etymology
Donggyeong () was the name of the capital city ofSilla
Silla (; Old Korean: wikt:徐羅伐#Old Korean, 徐羅伐, Yale romanization of Korean, Yale: Syerapel, Revised Romanization of Korean, RR: ''Seorabeol''; International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ) was a Korean kingdom that existed between ...
, a medieval Korean dynasty. Today, the city is known as Gyeongju
Gyeongju (, ), historically known as Seorabeol (, ), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of ...
.
Appearance
The ''Donggyeongi'' has a very short or no tail, which is a prominent characteristic distinguished from other dog breeds in Korea. The ''Donggyeongi''s facial features are similar to those of another dog type, the Korean Jindo
The Jindo dog () is an indigenous dog native to the island of Jindo in South Korea. It is also known as () and formerly known as the Chindo dog.
It is one of South Korea's National Treasures. It has a reputation for being loyal and good at tr ...
, which is also a natural heritage dog in South Korea.
History
DNA analysis indicates that the ''Donggyeongi'' and theKorean Jindo
The Jindo dog () is an indigenous dog native to the island of Jindo in South Korea. It is also known as () and formerly known as the Chindo dog.
It is one of South Korea's National Treasures. It has a reputation for being loyal and good at tr ...
were separated from a common ancestor about 900 years ago.
The feature of ''Donggyeongi'' was mentioned in old records such as ''Donggyeong Jabgi'' 《동경잡기(東京雜記)》(1845), ''Jeungbomunhyunbigo'' 《증보문헌비고(增補文獻備考)》(1770), and was also found in the clay dog dolls from the sixth century excavated around Gyeongju
Gyeongju (, ), historically known as Seorabeol (, ), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of ...
.
In the past, there was a large population of ''Donggyeongi'' in Gyeongju, but the dogs were slaughtered during the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945). There is an allegation that they might have been killed due to their similarity to ‘Komainu
, often called lion-dogs in English, are statue pairs of lion-like creatures, which traditionally guard the entrance or gate of the shrine, or placed in front of or within the ''honden'' (inner sanctum) of Japanese Shinto shrines.
Symbolic mea ...
’, the dog figures kept in Japanese royal palaces or shrines. During the period, the number of dogs such as the ''Donggyeongi'', the Jindo, and the Sapsali decreased as they were slaughtered en masse to use their skins for winter coats.
Even after the Korean liberation in 1945, the situation in ''Donggyeongi'' was not good. The dogs were despised by the general public: their lack of tails was regarded as bringing bad luck, or the dogs were mistaken as deformed. The number of ''Donggyeongi'' drastically decreased as a result. Hybridization with other breeds worsened the situation. Later misunderstanding on their tail shape was resolved, breed preservation efforts started, and the dogs were designated as national heritage.
See also
* Old English Sheepdog *Korean Jindo
The Jindo dog () is an indigenous dog native to the island of Jindo in South Korea. It is also known as () and formerly known as the Chindo dog.
It is one of South Korea's National Treasures. It has a reputation for being loyal and good at tr ...
* '' Sapsali''
* ''Nureongi
The ''Nureongi'' (), also known as the Korean Yellow Spitz or (), is a common, spitz-type dog with yellowish coloring endemic to the Korean peninsula.
''Nureongi'' has bat-like ears, a tail that stands upright, and a body with a square shape. ...
''
References
External links
Spitz breeds Dog breeds originating in Korea Rare dog breeds {{Spitz