Also read Dōhō kosei. Lit. "Dongfeng's tiger voice." A Zen 禅 dialogue in which a tiger is a metaphor for spiritual strength. The story, Case 85 of the Biyanlu (Jp: Hekiganroku 碧巌録, 1300), begins when an unidentified monk asks Dongfeng (Jp: Tōhō 桐峯), a little-known Rinzai 臨済 monk who is called so after his residence on Mt. Dong (Jp: Tō 桐), "What would you do if you met a tiger on this mountain?" Dongfeng replies by roaring like a tiger. The monk pretends to be frightened, and Dongfeng laughs.
The story is included among "pictures of Zen occasions" *zenki-zu 禅機図. Kano Sanraku's 狩野山楽 (1590-1651), well-known painting of the theme (Private collection), shows two priests in conversation and a snarling tiger, but adds a Chinese scholar to the scene.