In Chinese folklore, the tiger and dragon often appear as adversaries or rivals, symbolizing the balance of yin and yang. The tiger represents yin (earthly and passive), while the dragon represents yang (heavenly and active). Their battles are not about destruction but rather the balance and harmony of forces.

The two creatures are sometimes depicted in combat or in a dynamic pose, suggesting a struggle for dominance. However, neither ever wins, as their conflict is a metaphor for the ongoing balance and harmony between opposing elements. This dynamic is reflected in the idiom “⻰争⻁⽃” (Lóng zhēng hǔ dòu), which means “a struggle of equal forces.”