Dragon; Tiger

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 and nose has faded.

Two vertically oriented hanging scrolls feature fine-lined ink illustrations on silk. In the left scroll, a tiger crouches amidst swirling, dark mist. In the right, a dragon emerges from churning clouds, its head facing left. Both scrolls are bordered at top and bottom by blue and gold floral fabric. Muted, monochromatic tones and layered brushwork create a somber, atmospheric scene for these mythical creatures in their elemental surroundings.

Dragon; Tiger

c. 1250–79

Fachang Muqi

(Chinese, 1220–1280)

China, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279)

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