The dragon here is the mythical beast from China, not the lizard-like figure of Western imagination, but more a snake with legs and whiskers. And where do Chinese dragons come from? There is a gorge called Longmen ("Dragon-gate") on the Yellow River that flows so fast it is said that any carp that managed to swim up it will turn itself into a dragon, the King of the scaly beasts.
This page also includes portrayals of the dragon facing its arch-rival the tiger...
On this page:
The dragon -
Tiger and dragon
Separate page for tigers on their own
© Kimura Keigo
An enormous dragon fills the frame, taking an appropriately agressive stance. The abstract background, suggesting precipitous mountains, perhaps supports the description of the subject as "dancing on the clouds".
Born in Kyoto in 1944, Kimura Keigo spent a halcyon childhood collecting beetles in the hills to the east of the old capital. A love of nature brought the desire to paint - animals, trees, rocks, and the traditional subjects from dragons to waterfalls.
Kimura is his family name, and as is usual with artists he uses his given name professionally, but does not appear to sign his paintings.
 This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.
 In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 50 x 75 cm (20" x 30")
Code: E23015 (23-015 on box)
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A dazzling golden dragon, fearsome as ever! And auspicious...
The original title is literally "Dragon that sees in eight directions", meaning the eight cardinal points of the compass. This refers to the ability of the dragon, one of the four Chinese protector gods, to watch everything at the same time.
Born in Ibaraki, in 1969, Suwahara embarked on a career as a freeleance illustrator in 1996. He has specialised in historical figures, especially from the Three Kingdoms story, and brings a very modern technique to some traditional themes.
Suwahara is his family name.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 2000 pieces; 72 x 49 cm (28" x 19")
Code: BS62506 (S62-506 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$37.04 €29.13 £24.00)
Shipping from ¥1100 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.58 €10.68 £8.80)
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© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz
Where do dragons come from? There is a gorge called Longmen ("Dragon-gate") on the Yellow River that flows so fast it is said that any carp that managed to swim up it will turn itself into a dragon, the King of the scaly beasts.
This picture is ideally suited to the traditional vertical format. Two carp leap upward, while a confident dragon shows his mettle at the top. This seemingly impossible climb is used as a metaphor for achievement in the world—and there is further good fortune indicated by the combination of pine and carp. (More wordplay: this can be read shôri, which with different characters means "victory".)
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 34 x 102 cm (13" x 40")
Code: E18005 (18-005 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$37.04 €29.13 £24.00)
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A pair of dragons make fearsome adversaries. But in Buddhist-inspired mythology, they are not seen as evil, rather as symbols of right. Here each dragon has one claw extended as if to fight, but in the other holds the wish-fulfilling jewel, or cintamani (in Sanskrit), of both Buddhis and Hindu tradition.
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E15059 (15-059 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$37.04 €29.13 £24.00)
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The blue dragon, protector god of the east, shows his teeth, while his long long tail writhes into the distance among the lightning strikes. The box includes the characters for 'East: blue dragon', and the Chinese reading 'Qing-long' for "Blue dragon."
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11202 (11-202 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$37.04 €29.13 £24.00)
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© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz
The dragon is one of the four protecting gods, normally associated with the East and blue, but as the most senior of the four, when the gods are associated with the Five Elements, it moves to the centre, taking the associated colour yellow.
Kayomi portrays this dragon in warm colours, but flaming claws make it look ferocious enough...
The box includes the characters for 'Yellow dragon', and the Chinese reading 'Huang-long'. This puzzle can be combined with White tiger howl (code E11302) to make a 2000-piece panel.
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
This puzzle is cut to make pieces harder to find. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 50 x 75 cm (20" x 30")
Code: E11301 (11-301 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$37.04 €29.13 £24.00)
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The blue dragon, protector god of the east, shows his teeth, while his long long tail writhes into the distance among the lightning strikes. The box includes the characters for 'East: blue dragon', and the Chinese reading 'Qing-long' for "Blue dragon."
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 450 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: E08039 (08-039 on box)
Retail price ¥1400 (approx. US$17.28 €13.59 £11.20)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$6.17 €4.85 £4.00)
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The tiger, symbol of fire, and the dragon, symbol of water, are often portrayed as adversaries, representing the heaven-earth or ying-yang dichotomy.
Note that the tiger is quite naturalistic, whereas the dragon is an entirely mythical beast, and more like a snake with legs and horns than the giant lizard form of Western dragon.
This puzzle is also available in 1000 pieces (code A10311).
The painter Ozuma Kaname was born in 1939, in Niigata. He studied traditional Japanese art, and his pictures are generally based on traditional themes.
Ozuma is his family name: he signs paintings with the single character of his given name only.
In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 2000 pieces; 102 x 73 cm (40" x 29")
Code: A20047 (2000-047 on box)
Retail price ¥5800 (approx. US$71.60 €56.31 £46.40)
Shipping from ¥1950 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$24.07 €18.93 £15.60)
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© Harai Kayomi / Studio Oz
The tiger and dragon snarl at each other, in this stylish "vertical panorama" — a format long used for traditional wall hangings. Although the title is just "Tiger and dragon" these are plainly the Chinese protector-gods, and the artist has added their Chinese names on the box: Qing-long, the blue dragon of the east, and Bai-hu, the white tiger of the west.
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 34 x 102 cm (13" x 40")
Code: E18006 (18-006 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$37.04 €29.13 £24.00)
Shipping from ¥1100 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.58 €10.68 £8.80)
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The traditional confrontation: a very real-looking and fierce tiger versus the mythical oriental dragon, with its snakelike body, huge claws, staring eyes, and twisty whiskers. All this over an angry sea - with a lot of grey pieces to make this puzzle a fair challenge.
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E15024 (15-024 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$37.04 €29.13 £24.00)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$14.81 €11.65 £9.60)
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The traditional adversaries: the tiger quite naturalistic, against the mythical dragon. All set against a background of fire and thunder.
Born in Ibaraki, in 1969, Suwahara embarked on a career as a freeleance illustrator in 1996. He has specialised in historical figures, especially from the Three Kingdoms story, and brings a very modern technique to some traditional themes.
Suwahara is his family name.
In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 72 x 49 cm (28" x 19")
Code: B61269 (61-269 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$37.04 €29.13 £24.00)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$14.81 €11.65 £9.60)
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The tiger, symbol of fire, and the dragon, symbol of water, are often portrayed as adversaries, representing the heaven-earth or ying-yang dichotomy.
Note that the tiger is quite naturalistic, whereas the dragon is an entirely mythical beast, and more like a snake with legs and horns than the giant lizard form of Western dragon.
This puzzle is also available in 2000 pieces (code A20047).
The painter Ozuma Kaname was born in 1939, in Niigata. He studied traditional Japanese art, and his pictures are generally based on traditional themes.
Ozuma is his family name: he signs paintings with the single character of his given name only.
In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: A10311 (1000-311 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$37.04 €29.13 £24.00)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$14.81 €11.65 £9.60)
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All about ordering (please read first)
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The traditional confrontation: a very real-looking and fierce tiger versus the mythical oriental dragon, with its snakelike body, huge claws, staring eyes, and twisty whiskers. All this over an angry sea - with a lot of grey pieces to make this puzzle a fair challenge.
No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 450 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: E08001 (08-001 on box)
Retail price ¥1400 (approx. US$17.28 €13.59 £11.20)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$6.17 €4.85 £4.00)
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