The shirt is inspired by the supposed signs in foreign-run concession areas in China, particularly at the entrance to the Huangpu Park in Shanghai – and also depicted in a scene in the film FISTS OF FURY. Although research has shown that this sign never really existed as it is depicted in the film, the scene itself was a triumphant moment for an underdog hero that worked wonderfully well as a pop-culture attack on prejudice, and as a boost in racial pride for Chinese audiences in 1972.
This, according to peekingduck.org, is what the sign actually looked like:
The photo is from a Chinese book, the translated title is “The Bund - History and Vicissitudes”, edited by Lou Rongmin, Shanghai Pictorial Publishing House, circa 1990.
More reading about the legendary sign:
http://blog.vdare.com/archives/2005/03/27/no-dogs-or-chinese-mythical-too/
http://www.zonaeuropa.com/20050618_1.htm
http://www.ihr.org/jhr/v15/v15n5p31_Weber.html
http://washingtonbureau.typepad.com/china/2008/03/no-dogs-and-chi.html
