Jigsaw puzzles from Japan

Dragons

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

The dragon

3000: Dragons of five colours (Kayomi)

This challenging puzzle includes no less than five of Kayomi's fluffy but fierce dragons. Five is the number of ancient Chinese elements, which are associated with the cardinal directions (including "centre"), and also with colours. So the central yellow dragon symbolises imperial authority, and manifests rank by having five claws and holding the magic ball. Around the four corners are the four protectorate dragons: Black to the north, Blue to the east, Red to the south, and White to the west. (These also match with the colours of the four protectorate gods.)

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: 3000 pieces; 1020 x 730 mm (40" x 29")
Code: E21105 (21-105 on package)
Retail price ¥4800 (approx. US$33.80 €30.77 £26.67)

All about ordering (please read first)

2016: Cherry dragon (Kayomi)

Even a dragon can look kind-hearted when portrayed by Kayomi, yet this one displays its scaly jaws and claws, with the magical cintamani jewel in its grasp. Cherry blossom, Mount Fuji, and the full moon complete the picture.

No biographical details available. She signs her given name Kayomi in Roman letters.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E22601 (22-601 on package)
Retail price ¥3364 (approx. US$23.69 €21.56 £18.69)

All about ordering (please read first)

1500: Gold and silver dragons (Seikaku)

A jolly view of dragons in the sky – they fly without need of wings... and all the usual auspicious symbols, the fans, the red coral, the gold, plum-bamboo-pine, and Mount Fuji majestic in the background.

No biographical details, but the artist Mori Seikaku specialises in animal and flower scroll paintings. He signs his work the traditional way, with the characters for his given (brush) name, Seikaku (lit. 'nest of the crane') and a seal of the same.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E15701 (15-701 on package)
Retail price ¥3364 (approx. US$23.69 €21.56 £18.69)

All about ordering (please read first)

1000: Kannon rides the Dragon

A very matronly Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy, stands barefoot amidships on a rather nice dragon. In her left hand she holds a flower (perhaps a lotus flower), while the dragon similarly clutches the symbolic Chintamani Stone (or "treasure ball").

This is a standard pose for Kannon, and this version is subdued in tone yet full of details. The image also includes a complete sutra for the elimination of disasters — this is essentially in Sanskrit transliterated into ancient Chinese, so a typical Japanese reader can make no more meaning of it than you can. Although Kannon is often known as "Goddess of Mercy", experts in Buddhism tell us she is really Avalokitêsvara, who was a man...

In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 500 x 750 mm (20" x 30")
Code: A10676 (1000-676 on package)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$21.13 €19.23 £16.67)

All about ordering (please read first)

420: Double dragon (Kayomi)

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 Buddhist 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: 420 pieces; 515 x 182 mm (20" x 7")
Code: E52137 (52-137 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$12.68 €11.54 £10.00)

All about ordering (please read first)

Tiger and dragon

White tiger of the west - Blue dragon of the east

The panel above is made from two separate puzzles by the Chinese artist Song Qijin: White cloud tiger and Blue thunder dragon listed separately below. You can also combine these two vertically.

See also the matching Tiger and Dragon puzzles by Kayomi

2016: Moonlit tiger and dragon (Kayomi)

Traditional rivals, tiger and dragon face off under a full moon masked only by a sprig of cherry blossom.

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: 2016 pieces; 500 x 750 mm (20" x 30")
Code: E23087 (23-087 on package)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$21.13 €19.23 £16.67)

All about ordering (please read first)

1000: Dragon vs. tiger (Kaname)

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; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: A10311 (1000-311 on package)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$21.13 €19.23 £16.67)

All about ordering (please read first)

1000: Tiger vs. Dragon (Kaname)

The classic duo from the four protector gods: the tiger quite naturalistic, but the dragon a fantastic scaly snake-like body with fierce fangs, talons, and horns.

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
A Yanoman puzzle: 1000 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: Y101311 (10-1311 on package)
Retail price ¥3200 (approx. US$22.54 €20.51 £17.78)

All about ordering (please read first)

Tigers - the auspicious white tiger, and the ferocious yellow one
More traditional themes - Red Fuji, and lucky flowers, fish, animals and birds
Gods - features sets of seven, four and two
Lucky! - the animals of the Chinese calendar cycle
Kaname - painter of traditional lucky themes, particularly various animals

Dragons

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