Besides the extremely lively Shangyuan Festival and the complicated power struggles, I wonder if you know how people in the Tang Dynasty used to have fun in their daily lives. What kind of recreational activities did they use to adorn their lives? In that prosperous and martial – oriented era, as we mentioned before, the Tang Dynasty admired masculine strength. There was a period when women were into wearing men’s clothing, and both men and women also had a time when they were fond of Hu clothing. People from the noble class wore Hu clothing, which was convenient for horse – riding and archery, and galloped on horses, having a great time. But do you think that’s all?

Ⅰ. The Company of Sighthounds

In the TV series The Longest Day in Chang’an (《长安十二时辰》), we can see that the hunting dogs in the show have a unique build. Some might think these dogs are too skinny from hunger, but of course, that’s not the case. This is the famous Chinese sighthound, a hunting dog used by the royal family for hunting. Not only the dog in the show, but also the hunting dogs in some Tang – Dynasty cultural relics look like this. Here are some screenshots from the TV series. Aren’t they really thin and slender?

Don’t be in a hurry to marvel at its supermodel-like figure. First, let’s introduce this little cutie. It’s a dog breed that is gradually disappearing. It is the prototype of the “Xiaotian Quan (哮天犬)” under Erlang Shen (二郎神) in the legend. Not only does it have a “slender” body shape, but it also possesses the combat power of the “Xiaotianquan”! Despite its seemingly delicate and frail-looking small body, with long and slender limbs, a head that resembles a bicycle seat, and a “slim waist”, in fact, this xigou can run incredibly fast! The scientific name of the “Xiaotianquan” is the “Shandong Xigou (山东细狗, xigou means slim dog)”. Yes, you’re not mistaken. It is indeed a genuine “slim dog”.

In fact, there are four types of xigou in our country, namely the Shandong Xigou, the Hebei (河北) Xigou, the Mongolian (蒙古) Xigou, and the Shaanxi (陕西) Xigou. They have pointed faces, two long drooping ears, thin and upright bodies, are agile in movement, have strong explosive power, and can run extremely fast. They are renowned worldwide in sprinting competitions. Look at this face shape that is like a bicycle seat. During running, this streamlined body shape can reduce wind resistance, and the long legs can provide a continuous source of forward power. It would truly be a pity to keep it in the city.

Currently, there are two theories regarding the origin of the xigou. One theory holds that the xigou originated from ancient Egypt. The basis for this is that there are images of hounds resembling xigou in the hunting scenes depicted on the murals of the pyramids. Based on this, some scholars believe that the xigou originated in ancient Egypt. There are records of xigou during the Western Han Dynasty. Therefore, it is believed that this dog breed was probably introduced into our country during the Western Han Dynasty. However, this claim still requires further verification.

Another theory holds that the xigou is a native dog breed in our country, originating from areas around Shandong and Hebei. When you take a closer look, it really seems to be exactly the same!

The xigou is characterized by its fast running speed, ferocity, and strong biting ability. However, it has poor turning ability and is not suitable for mountainous or waterlogged areas. Therefore, it can only be found in the plain regions of northern provinces such as Henan, Hebei, Shandong, and Shaanxi. In Shaanxi, it is only present in the eastern and central parts of the Guanzhong area.

There are also strict selection criteria for a good xigou: “The head should be like a shuttle, the waist like a bow, the tail like an arrow, and the four paws should be like a clove of garlic.” In the rural areas of Guanzhong in Shaanxi, especially in places like Sanyuan, Dali, Jingyang, and Pucheng, almost every household keeps a xigou.

The xigou has a long history in China, and you can also spot it in some animated works and movies. For example, in the popular animated series 非人哉.

Ⅱ. The Start of the Hunt

In those days, there were no photos or videos. The pottery figurines and murals in Tang Dynasty tombs left behind are the most authentic portrayal of the lives of people in the Tang Dynasty. The figures in numerous pottery figurines and murals all look full of spirit. Some riders are accompanied by hunting dogs, while others are carrying fierce birds. These vividly reproduce the grand momentum of the royal family and nobles of the Tang Dynasty going out hunting, and also confirm the fashion of the upper class in the early and prosperous Tang Dynasty who loved hunting.

With such a grand scene, it feels as if a large group of people and horses have already rushed past in front of me, leaving only the dust swirling in place and me inhaling the dust. 😮

In fact, hunting activities had already emerged in primitive society. But in those days, hunting was mainly to meet people’s survival needs. With the development of social productivity, hunting gradually became a recreational activity for strengthening the body and cultivating the spirit of warriors.

Especially in the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin regarded hunting as equally important as national unity and the peace and prosperity of the country. Thus, in the prosperous and peaceful era of the Tang Dynasty, hunting became a popular leisure and entertainment activity among the royal family and nobles.

Look at this young and handsome warrior on horseback. He is wearing a long sword and a quiver around his waist. He is leaning sideways and looking up, staring at the prey flying in the sky. His hands are raised as if he is about to draw a bow and shoot an arrow in an upward direction. Isn’t this exactly a true portrayal of the line in a Tang poem, “He turns over and shoots upwards at the clouds, and with one arrow, he brings down a pair of flying wings”?

Summary

Due to the gradual decrease of hunting activities, hunting dogs have gradually stopped playing their roles, and the number of xigou being raised is also relatively small. As a result, the number of purebred xigou in China is getting fewer and fewer. Perhaps some customs will change over time, but just as geese leave traces when they fly by, the xigou have witnessed the past glory and prosperity of the prosperous Tang Dynasty that has now faded into history. This dog breed is a powerful testament to the custom of advocating hunting at that time.