Tiger (pair with B60D53+)

龍虎図屏風　一双　紙本墨画淡彩　江戸時代　18世紀

2012 is the Year of the Dragon, a fitting time to display this pair of screens. Unlike Western dragons, which are associated with fire and are considered mostly evil, East Asian dragons are positive forces in the universe, in charge of the clouds that bring rain.

Why are the dragon and tiger contrasted in this pair of folding screens? They have complementary symbolic roles: in the ancient Chinese system of directional beasts, the dragon is in the east, and controls spring; while the tiger is in the west, controlling autumn. In Taoism the dragon corresponds to yang, and the tiger to yin—the male and female principles. Dragons control the heavens and tigers the earth.

The anonymous artist of these screens treats the two beasts with a light, humorous touch. A genial-looking dragon flexes its claws against spiraled dark clouds; while the massive tiger, tail held high, wears the slightly goofy expression of a cartoon character. The tiger's odd proportions and flat stripes suggest that it was based on an animal hide, rather than a live beast. Like the mythical dragon, real tigers did not exist in Japan when these screens were painted.