Why are the dragon and tiger rivals in Asian culture?

Answer 1

They are not necessisarily RIVALS, but there is symbolism of the two being together in a picture. Pictures of dragons and tigers together represent Yin and Yang. Yin, which (according to Chinese principles, it may be different for others) represents darkness, the Moon, earth (the ground, not the plant) subtly, calm and feminine forces. The tiger represents this. The dragon represents Yang, which encompasses Light, the sun, the heavens, active forces and masculine forces. Another thing to remember is that just because the animals represent Yin and Yang, it does not mean that they have those meanings attached to them. Personally, I think that the main similarity with the two (the forces and the animals) is that the Dragon is aligned with the heavens and the tiger is with earth. Finally, one needs to remember that Yin and Yang are not Pure Good or Pure Evil, they are just forces of balance within the world, keeping things within check from being more in control of the other.

Answer 2

The dragon and tiger are considered rivals in Asian culture because they represent opposing forces. The dragon typically symbolizes power, strength, and good fortune, while the tiger represents courage, protection, and resilience. In Eastern traditions, the two animals are often depicted in conflict to represent the balance between these contrasting qualities.