Breed-history:

The word shar pei means "sand-skin" or shark skin" in Chinese, which refers to the typical, rough coat of the breed. The Shar Pei is one of the oldest breeds of the world, existed for at least 2000 years, in the age of Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220AD).
It's origin lie in the province of Kwung Tung, South China, around the towns of Dah Let and Dialack. Fired clay dog statuettes that have been discovered in this area and dated to this period surely show the Shar Pei. These statues now shown in Louvre, Paris and British Museum, London.
Because of the blue-black tongue and resembling shape it is certain that Chow-chow is one of the ancestor of the breed or the two breeds have a common ancestor. It seems that the two breeds had existed about the same time. Except of these two breeds the only other breed which has the blue-black tongue is the Thai Ridgeback. It has quite similar body structure but it has much weaker bones and muscles. It seems sure that these three breeds are relatives and their possible common ancestors are the Tibetan Mastiff and Spitz type dogs.
The Shar Pei, unlike the Pekinese, Shih-Tzu and Mops has not been the luxury dog of the ruling class, but was kept as hunting and guarding dog of the poor. According to some early documents there were no better bear hunter than the Shar Pei. The loose skin made it difficult for an opponent to get a grip on him. That is why it was used as fighting dog. The Shar Pei did not have enough of vicious temperament so he was given wine and stimulating drugs for increasing his aggressiveness. In the 19th century the western influence got stronger on China. Larger and fiercer breeds were introduced. Local breeds were interbred with Bulldogs and Mastiffs and the Shar Pei was no match for these crossbreeds any more. It was after this period that the Fighting dog of China started to decline in numbers due to their breeding neglected. During the era of Mao Ce-tung the breed population was nearly wiped out. A heavy tax was imposed on dogs. As only rich people could own dogs, keeping dog was politically dangerous. After the Cultural Revolution, in the Republic of China it was illegal to breed dogs. The breed was nearly lost forever. A small number of Shar Pei were brought to the United Stated in the 1960's, but there was no people interested in them. In 1973, Matgo Law, a dog breeder from Hong Kong wrote an article to "Dogs Magazine", appealing for help to save the breed. Soon there were about 200 people interested in buying a Shar Pei. During the following years a foundation stock were brought over from Hong Kong. So this special and ancient breed had survived. Dogs imported by Mr. Law had the kennel prefix of "Down Homes", but we have very little information about their origin. All of the living Shar Pei of today can be traced back to these dogs. The Shar Pei of 1960's in Hong Kong and USA had different type as of today. They were more lean, bony and taller. Many people think that the so called "Meat Mouth" type Shar Pei did not exist before the 1960's and these dogs do not reflect the real characteristics of the breed. Chinese people liked the "Bone Mouth" type most and this type were bred in the western part of the USA, in California and Texas. While on the East Coast the wrinkled and massive dogs were popular. Today there are no such big differences in type. In 1966 the Kennel Club of Hong Kong refused to register any more Shar Pei. They said that the dogs have too meaty head, they are too wrinkled and have soft coat, so they do not keep the original breed characteristics. That is when the Hong Kong and Kowloon Kennel Club was founded. They continued to register the Shar Pei and saved the breed. The Club has given out the first official Shar Pei standard. This was the base of the American Kennel Club standard. The Chinese Shar Pei Club of America was established in 1974. It is a member club of the AKC.
The first Shar Pei arrived to Europe in 1979. Owners were Linda Reinelt and Joachim Weinberg, in Germany. Mr. Weinberg made the first FCI standard in 1981, also based on the standard of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Kennel Club.
Nowadays the Shar Pei is rather popular and the breed, once so close to extinction, is now living all over the world.
In 1994 the Kennel Club of Hong Kong had realised that the breed originates from their country so they recognised it again. The club, as a member of the FCI, had made the new standard in 1995, which has great difference in the height of the Shar Pei.
The official FCI standard nr. 309 was changed in 1999 and it - after all - supporting a healthy Shar Pei by excluding dogs, which went under eye and lips surgery.

Source: Wymander's Shar Pei
Author: Pócza Ernő