Tsuba with a Tiger and Dragon – Omori Teruhide
On the front of the tsuba, a lion crouches near bamboo growing by a stream while a storm rages overhead. On the back, a dragon emerges from clouds in the sky. This pairing of two of the strongest animals in Japanese tradition is a symbol of the power of religious faith (the dragon) over the temporal world (the tiger).

http://art.thewalters.org/detail/19636/tsuba-with-a-tiger-and-dragon/