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Dragon
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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. <br><br>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.
| Artist / Maker | Fachang Muqi |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1250–79 |
| Culture / Origin | China, Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279) |
| Medium | Hanging scroll; ink on silk |
| Dimensions | Painting: 125.2 x 57.2 cm (49 5/16 x 22 1/2 in.); Overall with knobs: 226.8 x 78 cm (89 5/16 x 30 11/16 in.) |
| Department | Chinese Art |
| Type | Painting |
About the Artist
active mid-13th century Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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