Dragon
Each an auspicious beast, the dragon and tiger together are symbolic of the yin-yang principle, embodying the complementary opposites of male and female, east and west, and wind and water, respectively.
Determining the nationality of works in this genre is difficult due to the long history of pairing these two animals in East Asian paintings. The practice of emulating and repeating established traditions by artists in China, Korea, and Japan meant that styles and conventions often crossed cultures. These scrolls were attributed to Muqi, the celebrated thirteenth-century Chinese artist, when they entered The Met collection in 1912. While they reflect what is known of his style they are most likely not by his hand; the tiger especially reflects elements found in Korean and Japanese examples.
Read further about the scrolls online in The Met’s Timeline of Art History and make your own determination about their cultural origins.
Determining the nationality of works in this genre is difficult due to the long history of pairing these two animals in East Asian paintings. The practice of emulating and repeating established traditions by artists in China, Korea, and Japan meant that styles and conventions often crossed cultures. These scrolls were attributed to Muqi, the celebrated thirteenth-century Chinese artist, when they entered The Met collection in 1912. While they reflect what is known of his style they are most likely not by his hand; the tiger especially reflects elements found in Korean and Japanese examples.
Read further about the scrolls online in The Met’s Timeline of Art History and make your own determination about their cultural origins.
Artwork Details
- 작자미상 용과 호랑이 조선 또는 일본 (에도)
- 簋簅痡萳 樻虎圖 朝鮮 日本 江戶
- Title: Dragon
- Artist: In the style of Muqi (Chinese, active ca. 1250–80)
- Date: 16th or 17th century
- Culture: Korea or possibly Japan
- Medium: Hanging scroll; ink on silk
- Dimensions: 51 1/2 x 27 1/2 in. (130.8 x 69.9 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1912
- Object Number: 12.123.2
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Muqi
16th or 17th century
Unidentified artist
16th century
Unidentified artist
ca. 1551
Chae Yongsin (artist name: Seokji)
dated by inscription to 1924
Unidentified artist
ca. 1790–1805
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.