Chinese reverse glass painting.

Main detail of a hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, first half 19th century, Japan, by unknown artist.

Japanes Edo period.
made by the Japanese artist Kitao Shigemasa,1739 - 1820.

Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper.
37.7 x 25.2 cm (14 13/16 x 9 15/16 in.)

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts (USA)

Pekingese Dog sitting on a cushion thinking about the bird in the cage behind him by Ohara Hoson.

Dog at New Year by the Japane artist Totoya Hokkei (1780 - 1850).
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

The Japanese Chin is an ancient breed that, as the name suggests, originated in the East, probably China. It is likely that the first specimens to arrive in Japan were presented as gifts by the Emperor of China to the royal court. For centuries these dogs were kept by the nobility and not seen outside the palace walls. They were bred to be as small as possible so that could be carried in the sleeves of the ladies kimonos or kept in cages, rather like birds.

China, 8th entury.

They holding two Pekingese.

The origins of the Pekingese dog began with the breeding in the Chinese imperial court, perhaps as early as the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE) period. The Chinese emperor wanted to replicate the Buddha's experience of taming a wild lion, symbolizing passion and aggression. Buddha's tame lion would "follow at his heels like a faithful dog," according to legend. In a somewhat circular story, then, the Han emperors bred a dog to make it look like a lion - a lion that acted like a faithful dog.

This is an original 1921 black and white halftone print of a portrait of the wife of the governor of Lower Kham in Tibet.

The dog in the background could be a Pug. The dog in the front could be a Happa Dog or a Japanse Chin.

Japanese Chin originated in China and was brought over to Japan around 732 CE. A favourite among 18th Century Courtesans they were called ‘sleeve-dogs’ or Chien de la Cour in French, as they were carried in the large sleeves of Japanese ladies.

The famous geisha with her Japanese Chin.