The tiger together with the dragon holds the most honorable and ancient place in Chinese lore. The tiger with dominion over the earth, and the dragon with dominion over the sky.
In the I Ching (The Book of Changes), the tiger assumes a role in astronomical and astrological tradition, appearing in the Ssu Fang, a map of heaven showing special animal holding sway over the Four Directions of the Universe and the four seasons of the year. The Tiger represent Autumn and West. The tiger was put in change of autumn season because his fierceness seemed to match the fierceness of this season in northern China (The tiger’s autumn ferocity was attributed to the fact that this was the animal’s mating season, during which he roamed restlessly abroad seeking a mate). Another reason for venerating the tiger and marking him out as “king of beasts” is that the dark markings on his forehead resemble the Chinese character ‘wang’, meaning “royal”.
The tiger and the dragon also represent wind and water, played important roles in FengShui. The tiger and the dragon also represent the yin and the yang forces of nature. The tiger, depicting the the yin, or material forces, roars at the dragon, represent the yang, or spiritual force. This was interpreted as a contest between wind and water. The wind, which follows the tiger, blows vigorously into the clouds, which follow the dragon. According to the I Ching: “The breath of the tiger creates the wind and the breath of the tiger creates the clouds; together they create the rain, which fructifies the earth and brings forth food for mankind.
Medicines concocted of pulverized tiger bones and teeth, mixed with the animal’s gall, were considered a special dosage to instill tiger strength to a man. Tiger bristles were held to be poisonous, but tiger talismans, worn or held close to the body, could cure almost any ailment.
The year of the tiger is a year for great deeds of strength and courage, a year for daring. It is an especially good year for boys, since male children fortunate enough to be born in the year of the tiger will be strong, brave, aggressive, active. But since the girls born in that year are thought to be headstrong and obstinate (traits considered unwomanly in the Orient), parents would prefer that their daughters be born in another year. Furthermore, the tiger-year girls run a high risk of leaving their husbands, since tiger can run thousands miles in one night and back again. Tiger people are thoughtful, sensitive, sympathetic, but prone to indecision and quick temper. They are likely to be suspicious nature and don’t easily trust others. They can be stubborn, selfish, narrow minded, and bad tempered. But the tiger does symbolize protection over human life, so during the tiger year the “three disasters” of thieves, fire, and ghosts will be held at bay.Tiger-year people should marry to those who born in the year of the horse, the dragon, or the dog. The second best is to marry someone who born in the year of the rat, the ox, the rabbit, the tiger, the sheep, the cock, or the boar. They should avoid marry to someone who was born in the year of the snake or the monkey.
In the I Ching (The Book of Changes), the tiger assumes a role in astronomical and astrological tradition, appearing in the Ssu Fang, a map of heaven showing special animal holding sway over the Four Directions of the Universe and the four seasons of the year. The Tiger represent Autumn and West. The tiger was put in change of autumn season because his fierceness seemed to match the fierceness of this season in northern China (The tiger’s autumn ferocity was attributed to the fact that this was the animal’s mating season, during which he roamed restlessly abroad seeking a mate). Another reason for venerating the tiger and marking him out as “king of beasts” is that the dark markings on his forehead resemble the Chinese character ‘wang’, meaning “royal”.
The tiger and the dragon also represent wind and water, played important roles in FengShui. The tiger and the dragon also represent the yin and the yang forces of nature. The tiger, depicting the the yin, or material forces, roars at the dragon, represent the yang, or spiritual force. This was interpreted as a contest between wind and water. The wind, which follows the tiger, blows vigorously into the clouds, which follow the dragon. According to the I Ching: “The breath of the tiger creates the wind and the breath of the tiger creates the clouds; together they create the rain, which fructifies the earth and brings forth food for mankind.
Medicines concocted of pulverized tiger bones and teeth, mixed with the animal’s gall, were considered a special dosage to instill tiger strength to a man. Tiger bristles were held to be poisonous, but tiger talismans, worn or held close to the body, could cure almost any ailment.
The year of the tiger is a year for great deeds of strength and courage, a year for daring. It is an especially good year for boys, since male children fortunate enough to be born in the year of the tiger will be strong, brave, aggressive, active. But since the girls born in that year are thought to be headstrong and obstinate (traits considered unwomanly in the Orient), parents would prefer that their daughters be born in another year. Furthermore, the tiger-year girls run a high risk of leaving their husbands, since tiger can run thousands miles in one night and back again. Tiger people are thoughtful, sensitive, sympathetic, but prone to indecision and quick temper. They are likely to be suspicious nature and don’t easily trust others. They can be stubborn, selfish, narrow minded, and bad tempered. But the tiger does symbolize protection over human life, so during the tiger year the “three disasters” of thieves, fire, and ghosts will be held at bay.Tiger-year people should marry to those who born in the year of the horse, the dragon, or the dog. The second best is to marry someone who born in the year of the rat, the ox, the rabbit, the tiger, the sheep, the cock, or the boar. They should avoid marry to someone who was born in the year of the snake or the monkey.
