This powerful hand-painted ink drawing is an original design from Kyoto, dating to the Meiji period (1868–1912). Originally crafted on thin, delicate rice paper, this piece served as a technical model for a Buddhist altar cloth, an essential textile used to adorn sacred spaces. Measuring approximately 31 inches by 16 inches (79 cm x 41 cm), the drawing features a distinctive triangular silhouette intended for the specific draping requirements of an altar. While the artwork remains in good condition, it bears the authentic marks of its history as a working workshop blueprint, including noticeable crease marks and minor age-related wear to the paper.

The composition depicts the legendary confrontation between the dragon (tatsu) and the tiger (tora), a classic motif in East Asian art representing the fundamental balance of nature and the elements. On the left, a crouching tiger is rendered with bold, rhythmic stripes, its gaze fixed upward toward the celestial dragon. On the right, the serpentine dragon descends from stylized clouds and flames, its body coiled with intricate scale detailing and flowing whiskers. The entire scene is executed in masterful black ink calligraphy, using fine, expressive lines to convey the spiritual tension and energy (qi) of this ancient symbolic pairing.

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