The Pekinese was first bred as a dog for the Imperial court in ancient China and is closely related to the pug, which shares this origin. No one knows quite when or how the Pekinese was first created. Chinese legend tells of a lion who fell in love with a Marmoset, and went to the Buddha asking to be made small like the one he loved, who granted the wish. The tiny lion is said to have been the first Pekinese.