An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Dragon and Tigerc. 1546–56
Sesson Shūkei
A tiger sits in a bamboo grove whipped with fierce wind, while a dragon claws through clouds above rough waves. Tiger and dragon are Chinese cosmological symbols of the balancing forces in the world, yin (the feminine aspect) and yang (the masculine aspect). The tiger's roar is also said to generate wind, and the dragon clouds. The screens may have originally been meant to express the fluctuating nature of the world as envisioned in the practice of military divination, or forecasting, based on the <em>Yijing</em> (<em>Book of Changes</em>).
This pair of screens is considered the masterpiece of Sesson's body of work, and may have been created for the lord of Odawara in eastern Japan.
Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink on paper
Each: 157.3 x 339 cm (61 15/16 x 133 7/16 in.); Framed: 172.3 x 354 cm (67 13/16 x 139 3/8 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
In a tranquil bamboo grove, where the air shivers with the fierceness of a whipping wind, a solitary tiger rests. The majestic creature, with its vibrant orange and black stripes, embodies strength and grace, yet it exudes an undeniable calm. It is a symbol of yin, the feminine force that cradles the world’s nurturing spirit.
High above, a dragon darts through a tapestry of clouds, its claws outstretched as it glides effortlessly over turbulent waves. This serpent of the sky represents yang, the masculine energy that drives creation and chaos. With every swirl of its body, the dragon conjures storms and stirs the oceans below.
Together, the tiger and the dragon weave a story of balance. From the earth’s floor to the heavens above, they embody the cosmic duality that governs existence. Legends whisper that the tiger’s mighty roar has the power to stir winds, just as the dragon’s fierce presence summons clouds to dance in the sky.
These two figures, so majestic and so vastly different, reflect the intricate dance of forces that define our world. It is said that the screens upon which they are portrayed were initially intended to convey the ever-shifting nature of life, a concept deeply rooted in ancient military divination. The practice drew its wisdom from the *Yijing*, the revered *Book of Changes*, where fortunes could shift and tides could turn with a single moment’s breath.
In the gaze of the tiger, there lies a quiet invitation to embrace the nurturing side of ourselves, while the dragon beckons us to rise to challenges with courage and ambition. Together, they remind us that life is an unfolding narrative, filled with echoes of balance, a balance we might strive to embody in our own journey.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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