Canis lupus familiaris
Japanese Chin
Featured photojapanese-chin.jpgThe Japanese Chin is a Japanese imperial-court sacred lap-dog — Tang-dynasty Chinese gift to the Japanese throne. The Japanese Chin descends from the small flat-faced lap-dogs presented as gifts to the Japanese imperial court by Chinese envoys during the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD) and possibly earlier.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Toy
- Origin country
- Japan (originally China)
- Origin period
- Tang dynasty (modern type 16th century)
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- Black and White, Red and White (any shade of red, including lemon, orange, sable, and brindle), Black-and-White-with-Tan-points
- Average lifespan
- 10-14 years
- Recognition
- AKC 1888 · FCI 1956 · UKC 1948 · Group 9 — Companion and Toy Dogs (Section 8: Japan Chin and Pekingese)
Origin
The Japanese Chin descends from the small flat-faced lap-dogs (Lo-sze type) presented as gifts to the Japanese imperial court by Chinese envoys during the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD) and possibly earlier; the breed shares ancestry with the Pug, the Pekingese, and the Shih Tzu. The Chin was kept exclusively at the Japanese imperial court for centuries and was considered sacred — only the imperial family and the highest nobility could own one. The breed reached the West when Commodore Matthew Perry's 1854 expedition opened Japan to American trade; Perry presented two Chin to Queen Victoria upon his return. The Kennel Club registered the breed under the name 'Japanese Spaniel' in 1873; the AKC followed in 1888 and the modern name 'Japanese Chin' was adopted in 1977.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1888, the United Kennel Club followed in 1948, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 206) in 1956. The FCI assigns the breed to Group 9 — Companion and Toy Dogs (Section 8: Japan Chin and Pekingese).
Standard
The AKC and FCI standards describe a small, well-balanced, lively aristocratic toy dog with a distinctive Oriental expression, a square build, and a profuse silky coat. The defining features are the broad, flat head with the very flat short muzzle, the large, dark, wide-set eyes (showing a small portion of white in the inner corner — the breed-defining 'astonished expression'), and the long, profuse, single straight or slightly-wavy coat. Recognized colours are black-and-white, red-and-white (any shade of red), and black-and-white-with-tan-points. The breed stands 20-28 cm at the withers and weighs 2-7 kg.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese Chin's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the Japanese Chin in the Toy Group. The Toy Group gathers small companion breeds historically kept as lap dogs and household companions, including the Pug, Pomeranian, Maltese, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The breed's foundation working role was as a Japanese imperial-court sacred lap-dog — Tang-dynasty Chinese gift to the Japanese throne.
When was the Japanese Chin officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1888; the United Kennel Club followed in 1948; the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 206) in 1956.
What is the average lifespan of a Japanese Chin?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the Japanese Chin's average lifespan in the 10-14 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
