M014 - Shiyu Ryu 雌雄龍

Menuki with male dragon and female dragon motifs Shiyū Ryū (雌雄龍).

Menuki Omote: Length 41mm, Width 16mm, Height 4.5mm

Menuki Ura: 45mm length, 15mm width, 4.5mm height

This is a representation of a male Dragon and a female Dragon.
This representation is very rare because there is no mention of sex for dragons, mythological animals.

One of the only representations in Japan was painted by Kaiho Yusetsu (1598-1677), in 1634, at the Rinshō-in temple (麟祥院) at the request of Tokugawa Iemitsu, 3rd Shogun of the name.
The male Dragon O-Tatsu (雄) is towards the east, while the female Dragon Me-Tatsu (雌) is towards the west.
The Rinshō-in Temple 麟祥院 was built at the request of Kasuga no Tsubone 春日局, the latter's wet nurse of the 3rd Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. Kasuga no Tsubone had an important political importance and was very influential. She is also known for having allowed Tokugawa Iemitsu to be cured of smallpox by praying to Tōshōgu Daigongen 東照大権現. Lady Kasuga was one of the most influential women of the Edo period.
People come to make wishes at the grave of Kasuga no Tsubone, to acquire some of her wisdom, virtue and protection, qualities that are also attributed to dragons.

Shiyū 雌雄, in Japanese means both male and female, but also, victory and defeat, strengths and weaknesses.

Another mention of male and female dragons is the sacred rocks 'O-tatsu Me-Tatsu No Iwa' 雄龍雌龍の岩, on Tanegashima Island, south of Kyushu. Legend has it that a married couple was swept away by the waves and reincarnated in these rocks.