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Introduction to Dali, the origin of Shar-pei
Dali is said to be the original place of the traditional Shar-Pei. The official address of Dali today is:
Dali, Nanhai District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.
Over the past two centuries, the place has gone through many changes:
Until the late 17th century, Dali is still an isolated agricultural community with limited communication with the outside world. The closest city is Panyu.
From late 18th century to early 19th century, the 13 Hong's (trading houses) in Canton were already well developed in Guangzhou area trading with the western world. Trading with overseas brought wealth and changes to the vicinity of Guangzhou. The opening of Hong Kong as a free trade port in 1841 (after the Opium War) further brought trade and wealth to the region.
During the Republican time (1911-1949), the region continued to grow. Further development in Guangzhou and Hong Kong created further economic opportunity for Dali.
After the Communist took over China in 1949, and especially during the Cultural revolution (1967), all private agricultural and business activities were either stopped or abolished.
And finally the period of fast economic growth after death of Chairman Mao in 1976. The new market economy in China brought back new economic opportunities for the region.
In summary, the development of Shar-pei must be seen in perspective within the economic environment of the region. All the time before 1949 was a gradual developing stage for Shar-pei. During the Republican time (1911-1949), although still a very rural economy, Dali enjoyed an advantage of being close to economic center of Panyu and Guangzhou. The farmers shipped their agricultural products to Guangzhou for sale and in return they brought home the necessities they bought in the city. Hong Kong as a free port of trade under the British rule had a very important contribution to the development of economies in the Pearl River Delta region..
Affluence in the cities is the social foundation for many cultural heritage. Not every heritage is being preserved by affluences but it was the affluence in the cities that people found dog fighting activity as an entertainment pass time. This is for this reason that often the fighting aspect of Shar-pei was being overly talked about in thesis and discussion we find today in the Shar-pei circle.
In the 1980's Dali was still a small county near Nanhai City, and Nanhai City was a city adjacent to Foshan City. Due to rapid growth in the area, the government in the area went through an on going process of restructuring and recombination of jurisdiction. In 2002 the Nanhai City was dissolved into its adjacent city of Foshan and became a district; Dali became a part of Nanhai district.
Depending on the translation and pronunciation, Dali is also written in English as Dailek, Dailet, Tailek etc. in different literatures. The official translation today is Dali. (Refer to page on Geographical Names)
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Introduction
About Dali the place of origin
