The Chow-Chow (sometimes simply Chow:7–8) is a dog breed originally from northern China, where it is referred to as Songshi-Quan (Pinyin: sōng-shī quǎn), which translates to 'puffy-lion dog'. One Chinese legend mentions large war dogs from Central Asia that resembled black-tongued lions. One Chinese ruler was said to own 5,000 Chows. The Chow-Chow (sometimes simply Chow:7–8) is a dog breed originally from northern China, where it is referred to as Songshi-Quan (Pinyin: sōng-shī quǎn), which translates to 'puffy-lion dog'. One Chinese legend mentions large war dogs from Central Asia that resembled black-tongued lions. Chow-Chow eyes are typically deep set and almond shaped. The breed is unique by their purple/blue-black tongue which no other breed has except shar-pei's and has very straight hind legs, resulting in a rather stilted gait. :4–5 The bluish color extends to the Chow-Chow's lips; this is the only dog breed with this distinctive bluish color in its lips and oral cavity (other dogs have black or a piebald pattern skin in their mouths).