Fragment of Buddhist Ritual Banner (Ban) “Banner Leg” with Paired Dragons, Flowers, and Four-Petal Flower Roundels

This twill fragment of a “banner leg” seems to be decorated with large circles enclosing fierce winding dragons facing one another. Comparisons with a similar motif of paired dragons in beaded roundels (N-319-30), however, suggest changes were made to this pattern in the 8th century, like how the beaded roundel outside the main circle is replaced with vegetal motifs here.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.