| Just where exactly did this sweet and adorable little | | | | of this article is about my little Danny Boy, who is not |
| lap toy dog, the Japanese Chin originate? As with | | | | Japanese Chin, but is Shih Tzu. Of all the Shih Tzu I |
| many of our toy dog breeds, there are several | | | | have owned, he is the only one who stands on his |
| theories for us to remember as the history of this | | | | hind legs before me. Danny and I are very, very |
| toy dog breed. | | | | close. I wonder if this is a characteristic he inherited |
| There is plenty of evidence that the Japanese Chin | | | | from the Imperial line of dogs in China. None of my |
| can be traced back to the dogs that arrived in Japan | | | | other Shih Tzu exhibits this trait. I thought he was |
| as precious gifts from China and Korea over 1,100 | | | | begging for something. He does it quite often and he |
| years ago. The Japanese Chin is one of the most | | | | looks as if he is just standing up on his hind legs like a |
| ancient breeds of dogs. | | | | human and his front legs are like his human arms and |
| The exact history of the Japanese Chin is difficult to | | | | hands. It is so cute; I really enjoy seeing this little |
| determine, however, evidence exists that at the end | | | | trick in my Danny Boy. I am also wondering if the |
| of the first century A.D., the Chinese had a type of | | | | little dogs owned by the last Empress of China lined |
| dog known as 'Pai'. Canine breed authorities say the | | | | up from door to throne, standing on their hind legs |
| 'Pai' was a very small, short-headed and short-legged | | | | was out of "respect, love and honor for her." |
| dog. One canine breed writer, Collier, tells us there is | | | | It has been said, however, that because the |
| little doubt the Japanese race of small dogs originated | | | | Japanese Chin is not the easiest of dogs to train, the |
| from China. It is fact that trade and association | | | | thought of 50 of them doing this in perfect unison |
| between the two nations date back as far as the | | | | was a bit too much to believe. And.......it is only one of |
| fifth century. During the period of Tein Wu Ti (A.D. | | | | mine, out of all I ever had, who does this. Incidentally, |
| 673-686) and Ch'ih T'ung Ti (A.D. 690-696), Korea and | | | | my Danny Boy received no training for this. The only |
| China constantly gave small pet dogs to Japan. | | | | real thing different is my relationship with Danny Boy. |
| As with many of our toy dog breeds there are | | | | He is my absolute favorite of all time Shih Tzu I ever |
| various theories about the origin of the Japanese | | | | owned and I have in many ways told him this. He |
| Chin. Some suggest they come from Korea and that | | | | does have one bad trait I think is cute, but is |
| a Korean prince went to Japan taking gifts for the | | | | dangerous for him. He sees himself as rough and |
| Mikado in A.D. 732. The gifts included tiny dogs with | | | | tough and loves to try and prove this to all the dogs, |
| flat noses which resemble our present day Japanese | | | | big and small. I have to many times rescue him, which |
| Chin. In those days they were called Shoku-Ken. | | | | may add to the beauty and love of our relationship |
| They were definitely different from the dogs in | | | | also. He stands to his feet when I am around |
| Japan at that time which was of the Spitz type. | | | | because I suppose in his mind, I am his "Empress." |
| Another theory of the origin of our Japanese Chin | | | | Other relatives of the Chinese Imperial Ch'in were the |
| states that as early as 520 A.D., Buddish monks took | | | | Chinese Temple Dog, the Japanese Spaniel, the |
| Shoku-Ken from China to Japan when they went to | | | | Pekingese and the Chow. They resemble each other |
| preach as missionaries. The dogs were said to be a | | | | in my opinion. |
| symbol of the sacred Lion of Buddha. | | | | With all we know about the Japanese Chin today I |
| Other people believe the Japanese Chin were of the | | | | believe it is reasonable to assume that at least in the |
| Imperial Ch'in that supposedly originated in China. The | | | | very beginning was an Oriental breed. We also know |
| Imperial Ch'in dogs were only owned by Chinese | | | | the early days of the Japanese Chin were spent with |
| royalty. This seems to be the case of several of our | | | | people of nobility or very high rank and were |
| purebred toy dogs. We are so very fortunate now | | | | considered as something very valuable and precious. |
| that not only the wealthy have access and the | | | | It is my opinion as well that this "precious look" that |
| companionship of the purebred toy dog. | | | | seems to glow from the faces of the Japanese Chin |
| It has also been said that the last Empress of China | | | | is the result of some of that pampering and |
| kept 50 of these dogs in the throne room. When the | | | | adoration. The Japanese Chin is a delightful little lap |
| Empress entered the room story goes that these | | | | toy dog companion for us today, and is still |
| little dogs would line up from door to throne, standing | | | | considered valuable and precious for all who truly love |
| on their hind legs and bowing until she was seated. | | | | this breed. |
| Of particular note, I would like to add as the author | | | | This article is FREE to publish with the resource box. |