Tianlong Celestial Dragon Statuette

In medieval Japan, the Tianlong (Tenryū), "celestial dragon," belongs to the Tenryū Hachibushū, eight categories of beings who protect the Law of Buddha. For warriors, he embodies spiritual defense, mastery of the elements, and fertile rain, guarantees of harmony... and victory. He is seen coiling around kurikara around the sword of Fudō Myōō, a frequent motif in horimono, carvings executed by specialists on blades.
On mounts, tsuba often feature "dragons among the clouds" or openwork dragons, as evidenced by several pieces in the Kyoto National Museum and Japanese public collections. These images associate the dragon with the sky and water, recalling its protective role and its ability to bring rain. Religious place names themselves, such as Tenryū-ji in Kyoto, "Temple of the Heavenly Dragon," extend this dialogue between Buddhist iconography and samurai culture.