Saddle with design of lions and peonies

Traditional Japanese horse saddles were made of hard bur oak consisting of a front and rear panel. The other two panels connecting the front and rear panels are made of soft silk tree. The soft material helps prevent damage caused by the violent rocking that occurs while horse riding.
From the note written on the box for the saddle here, we learn that this was owned by Bekki Dousetsu (1513-85), the first head of the Tachibana family. The design on the surface is unclear, but it depicts Chinese lions and peonies. The lion is widely regarded as a king of beasts. However, it is said that even the mighty lion has one fatal enemy, which is a tiny parasite; the only remedy for the lion to survive after being attacked by the tiny worm is dewdrops from the peony. Therefore, the lion and peony are often depicted together in Japanese art.