China, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279) / c. 1250–79
Dragon; Tiger
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Dragon; Tiger as painting (China, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279) · c. 1250–79).
Fachang Muqi's ink paintings on Chan (or Zen in Japanese) themes were very popular in Japan.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as Pair of hanging scrolls; ink on silk and credits Fachang Muqi (Chinese, 1220–1280).
The museum's collection notes: The dragon and tiger are tied to the philosophical concept of yin and yang, which describes opposite but complementary forces. The dragon occupies a tiered background of waves and mist. Its luminous head emerges from the darker passages, and its narrow twisting body is serpent-like. By contrast, the close-up view of the tiger emphasizes its bulk. The tiger bends its head to lick its paw while its tail curls in the foreground. In their original Chan Buddhist context, this pair of scrolls likely flanked a central image, like the Bodhisattva Guanyin. The silk has darkened over the centuries, and the slight reddish shading in the tiger’s tongue a
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtDragon; TigerOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.