THE HISTORY OF THE JAPANESE CHIN
The Japanese Chin, previously known as the Japanese Spaniel, has a rich history shrouded in mystery. While most believe that the source breed for the Japanese Chin originated in China, the route by which the Chin arrived in Japan is a widely debated topic.
One story claims that the dogs were given to the Japanese royalty in AD 732 as gifts from the rulers of Korea. Others maintain that they were given as gifts to the Empress of Japan as early as the middle of the sixth century or by the seventh century. Still others claim that the Chin first arrived in Japan around the year AD 1000.
In 1613, the Japanese Chin was presented to England and in 1853 Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry was presented with a pair of Japanese Chin while visiting Japan on a trade mission. This pair was given to Queen Victoria on his return.
From 1868 they have been lap dogs to ladies of the upper class.
The Japanese Chin, previously known as the Japanese Spaniel, has a rich history shrouded in mystery. While most believe that the source breed for the Japanese Chin originated in China, the route by which the Chin arrived in Japan is a widely debated topic.
One story claims that the dogs were given to the Japanese royalty in AD 732 as gifts from the rulers of Korea. Others maintain that they were given as gifts to the Empress of Japan as early as the middle of the sixth century or by the seventh century. Still others claim that the Chin first arrived in Japan around the year AD 1000.
In 1613, the Japanese Chin was presented to England and in 1853 Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry was presented with a pair of Japanese Chin while visiting Japan on a trade mission. This pair was given to Queen Victoria on his return.
From 1868 they have been lap dogs to ladies of the upper class.
Picture: Japanese Chin at the Ladies Kennel Association (LKA) in 1898. The newspaper text reads "In front of an overwhelming background of be-feathered, be-fruited, be-flowered millinery, the top hatted male turns a dead pan expression on the cameraman. He was Mr Lindsey Hogg, with the exhibitors, of Japanese Spaniels at the LKA show at the Royal Botanic Soc. gardens, London on June 23 & 24, 1898"
