Palmer's 1896 travels through rural Japan brought him to a remote mountain monastery, where ancient murals adorned the temple walls. His journal describes his fascination with the elaborate artwork depicting mythical dragons soaring through celestial clouds. The monks shared stories of how these serpentine creatures embodied both wisdom and the untamed forces of nature in their traditions. Palmer found himself mesmerized by the fluid brushwork—each dragon's body twisted gracefully between stylized clouds, creating an illusion of movement across the static temple walls. He spent considerable time documenting every detail in his written observations, noting the color palettes, the dynamic compositions, and the symbolic elements woven throughout the imagery. The cultural significance of these dragons extended far beyond religious symbolism, Palmer discovered, as their image appeared woven into everyday life throughout the region. Based on Palmer's detailed written accounts of these mystical temple dragons, Emőke has painted her interpretation on a wooden tea box, bringing to life what the explorer witnessed in that remote Japanese monastery.