An inlaid mother-of-pearl Taming Tiger Lohan figure lacquer box

Japan, Edo period (1603-1868)

This exquisite box is modelled in the form of a seated Rakan (Lohan) resting against a tiger. The Lohan leans gently against the beast, propping his head with his left hand while his right hand rests easily on the knee of his bent right leg. Gazing forward with a serene, smiling expression, he wears a flowing monk’s robe. The outer layer features a seamless, repeating pattern, while the undergarment is richly adorned with immortal cranes, clouds, lotuses, key-fret motifs, and classic Karakusa (scrolling vines and leaves) patterns, masterfully rendered in Hiramaki-e and Takamaki-e lacquer. The clouds are further embellished with inlaid mother-of-pearl and Kirikane (cut gold), creating a brilliant reflection that shifts with the angle of light.

Beside the figure, the tiger coils softly with a peaceful expression, its delicate fur texture captured through incredibly fine, barely visible lines. The interior and base of the box are finished in a shimmering Nashiji (pear-skin) lacquer.

Tiger-Taming Lohan (Fukko Rakan)
The term Lohan is the Chinese transliteration of the Sanskrit Arhat (Japanese: Rakan), denoting a Buddhist saint who has attained enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of rebirth (samsara). The cult of the Lohans flourished in China from the Tang dynasty (618 to 907) onwards, reaching particular prominence during the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. Through extensive cultural and religious exchange between China and Japan during the Tang, Song, and Yuan periods, corresponding to Japan’s Kamakura and Muromachi eras, the iconography of the Lohans became deeply embedded within Japanese Buddhist art.

The Tiger-Taming Lohan is one of the revered Eighteen Lohans and is traditionally regarded as an incarnation of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future. He is frequently paired with the Dragon-Taming Lohan. According to Buddhist legend, he regularly shared his meagre monastic meals with a starving tiger that lived near his temple. Through his compassion, the beast became gentle and devoted, serving as a powerful symbol of the transformative power of Buddhist teaching. More broadly, the tiger represents the untamed passions of the human mind, and its subjugation signifies the conquest of ignorance, anger, and desire through spiritual discipline.

In Buddhist art, the Tiger-Taming Lohan is typically portrayed as a smiling, bald-headed monk with an exposed chest and abdomen, reflecting his association with Maitreya. He is invariably accompanied by a tiger shown in a state of calm submission. Dressed in flowing monastic robes and a richly decorated kasaya, often embellished with cloud motifs and gilt decoration, he embodies the virtues of wisdom, compassion, and spiritual mastery. His image remained a popular subject in Japanese painting, sculpture, and decorative arts for centuries, symbolising both inner enlightenment and harmony between humanity and the natural world.