It is said that men first bred pugs with the intention of a dog whose forehead wrinkles would form into the shape of wang zi, the kanji for “prince”. Dogs whio achieved this look were considered priceless.

However, Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, destroyed all records, scrolls and art related to the pug during his reign. What did he see in the face of the prince that drove him to such extreme measures?