It may be “a dog’s life”, but is it really that bad?

Until last month, 261 Chinese villagers who live in a neighborhood called Goujiacun, stopped living the dog’s life they lived since the 10th century. According to legend, Emperor Shi Jingtang was angry that members of the local clan shared part of his name, Jingtang, which means “respect”. This anger was made worse when one of the clan supposedly insulted the mighty ruler too. Jingtang retaliated by making the Jing clan change their name to Gou, a term that means “humble’’. But the name Gou is pronounced “dog’’. For over 1000 years, clan members endured insults and jokes about their new name. Last month, the Gous clan gained back some respect when they persuaded the government to restore their old Jing name. When the paperwork was finalized, there were fireworks, congratulatory toasts and celebration.

So, why is a “dog’s life” so bad? Because dogs in China haven’t enjoyed the cherished family member status they often enjoy in the West. Although the dog’s reputation in China is improving as the country modernizes, dogs are typically seen as dirty and willing to eat anything. They are primarily valued for herding, food and acting as a watch dog.

Personal plug here…you can make a dog’s life better when you buy our Dog Days Daily Planner. A portion of the proceeds are donated to non-profit organizations who improve the lives of dogs.

*According to one language authority, Michael Quinion, (www.worldwidewords.org), the phrase “a dog’s life” is first recorded in the sixteenth century and seems to have remained in the language with the sense of “a life of misery, or of miserable subserviency” ever since.