Breed History
It appears that the Japanese Chin (earlier known in
Great Britain as the Japanese Spaniel) was derived from
species of dogs from China around 700 AD, in fact the
first Japanese literature that mentions a dog related to
a Chin was 732 AD, when one arrived in Japan from Korea,
possibly a type known as "Shoku-Ken". Dogs known as "Paig"
or "Fo-Nae" were taken to Japan by sea, by traders,
Buddhist monks and by emissaries of the Emperor from
China, and some via Korea. It is thought that these
early specimens were types of Pugs and Pekes, and the
Hutchinson's Dog Encyclopaedia, suggests that their
origin can be traced back to the "Lion Dog of Pekin".
In 1551, the
term "Chinu-no-inu" (Chin Dog) appeared in Japanese
literature, so it is safe to say that the breed that we
now recognise was derived in Japan. The Edo-period (17th
to 18th century) was believed to be the peak of favour
of the Chin dog, under the protection of Shogun.
Breeding
was haphazard, but there were outlets to sell Chins to
the wives of Samurai people, and they were dearly
treasured as "lap-dogs". The Japanese people, usually
keep their dogs outside, but the Chin was always kept
inside the house "Zashiki" (living guest) and had their
own "Tatami" (straw-mat) in the bedroom.
One of
the earlist documented reports of such dogs arriving in
Great Britain, is that of 1613 Captain Saris brought
gifts from the Japanese Emperor of small spaniels. It is
also well reported that Commodore Perry in 1853 also
received such gifts, for the President of America. These
were four black and white - pug-like dogs with long hair,
and that the Commodore gave two of these dogs to Admiral
Sterling of the British Navy to take to the Queen of
England. Other similar "spaniels" arrived in this
country by seamen returning from the Far East, and
others were brought as "commercial gifts". By the turn
of the century, the breed had a large and aristocratic
following. There are many pictures of Queen Alexandra,
and her daughter Princess Victoria holding one or two of
their Japanese Chins, to whom they were both utterly
devoted.
It was
around this period (1895-6) that a group of fellow
enthusiastic contacted each other and founded a club
known as "The Japanese Spaniel Club". However, it was
not until 1897 that they gained official recognition by
registering the title with the Kennel Club. Even by 1899
the Kennel Club had only 33 specific Breed Clubs
registered. By 1901 there were just over one hundred.
Japanese Spaniels registered, and it was in December of
that year, that the Club amalgamated with the Pekes, and
applied for recognition of the new title "The Japanese
and Pekinese* Spaniel Club". (* as spelt in that period!).
Within three years, the Pekinese registration had
overtaken the Japanese Spaniels, and it was proposed and
approved that the clubs should be separated. It was
therefore on January 1905 that the club became
independent, and registered their present title "The
Japanese Chin Club".
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