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  • Writer's picturePolanda Polonica

The Gifted Chow: A Legend of Generosity and Fate

Long ago, during the Korean War, a man was driving his small truck on a remote road when he saw a Buddhist monk and a majestic Chow Chow walking in the middle of nowhere. The man was intrigued and decided to offer them a ride. Little did he know, this small act of kindness would change his life forever.

The monk was grateful and invited the man to visit his temple, a place he had never seen before. When they arrived, the man was given a stick to keep himself safe from the other Chows in the temple, but he soon realized that he didn't need it. The monk's Chow was the largest and strongest male in the temple, and it was loyal to its master and kept the man safe around the tour of the temple. All the other Chows in the temple kept themselves aloof and stayed on the side.

The man was amazed by the majestic beauty and loyalty of the Chows in the temple. As they were about to leave, the Chow grabbed the man's hand and took him to a room where several pups were kept. The Chow led the man straight to one of the pups and let his hand go. The man picked up the puppy, and the monk told him that this pup was his.

Apparently, the other Chows in the temple would come growling, but the monk would hit them on the nose with his stick or his Chow would growl frighteningly, making all the other Chows back off. The man was impressed by the Chow's bravery and loyalty, and he fell in love with the breed instantly.

The man kept the gifted Chow and moved back to his home in Australia. He had it for years until it went missing. Heartbroken, he searched everywhere for his beloved pet. He eventually found its hide hanging outside a starving family's horrible "tent." Even though he grieved its loss, the man knew that the Chow had served its purpose and had brought him a lifelong love for the breed.

The man was so touched by the Chow's loyalty and bravery that he convinced his wife to stop breeding St. Bernard dogs and breed Chows instead. From that day on, the Chow became his lifelong companion, and the breed became an integral part of his life.


There is a long history of monks breeding and keeping chow chows in Buddhist temples in China, Korea, and Tibet. Chows were highly regarded as guard dogs and symbols of prosperity and loyalty, making them a popular breed for temple guardians. The monks often bred chows for their temperament, loyalty, and intelligence, and trained them to be fierce protectors of the temple grounds.

In Korea during the Korean War, it was not uncommon for temples to take in stray dogs, including chows, as they were often left behind when their owners fled the fighting. These dogs were taken in by the monks and trained to be guardians of the temple grounds.

It is possible that the chow chow in the legend was one of these temple dogs, given its apparent loyalty and protectiveness toward the monk. The fact that the monk had a stick to protect the man from other chows in the temple suggests that there may have been a pack of dogs living there, possibly used for guarding the temple or simply taken in as companions to the monks.


This legend was written based on a true story shared by my dear friend Greg. Thank you!

Legends have been a part of human history for centuries, passed down from generation to generation. In today's world, we can still keep the tradition of creating legends alive. By sharing stories that inspire and captivate our imagination. Keep the tradition of storytelling alive and share your story, give it a chance to become a legend that will be cherished for years to come.

If you have a fascinating or inspiring story that you would like to share, please don't hesitate to let me know. I would be honored to convert it into a captivating legend to share with others. Let's keep the tradition of storytelling alive and pass on these tales to future generations.



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