What does the tiger mean in China traditional culture?

This answer is included in the "Year of the Tiger" quality answer.

"You can't be scared in the Year of the Tiger, but the Spring Festival will be fun." Go and have a look.

2022 is the Year of the Tiger in China. People in China name each year with the zodiac, which reflects the endless romantic feelings of the ancients. As one of them, what does the tiger mean in the traditional culture of China? Let me introduce you one by one.

Tiger culture has a long history.

Tiger is an extremely important part of China traditional culture. The tiger is the king of beasts. It is strong, strong and brave. In people's minds, the tiger is a symbol of avoiding evil spirits and disasters, and it can also protect wealth.

In China, the custom of offering sacrifices to tigers as gods has a long history. As early as the Zhou Dynasty, tigers sacrificed at the end of the year. There is a record of "welcoming tigers" in the Book of Rites. The ancients believed that the tiger was the patron saint of agricultural production. Sacrifice to the tiger, because it can eat wild boar that harms crops.

Many ethnic minorities in China worship tigers, thus forming their own different customs. The Yi people call the tiger god "Ronnie", which is the most effective and lofty god in their minds. The tiger god can eliminate disasters and exorcise evil spirits for them, and can bless them with good luck and peace. They put themselves, their families and their happiness under the protection of the tiger god.

Therefore, in some Yi shrines, most of them are dedicated to tiger-shaped ancestral spirits, with tiger-shaped exorcism symbols hanging on the gates and tiger-shaped Shi Hu gods set at village intersections.

About 5,000 years ago, tigers had an indissoluble bond with China folk culture. Tiger totem originated in Fuxi era, before dragon totem. The worship of tigers exists in all ethnic religions. In Taoism, the tiger is regarded as the patron saint of Tianmen. Taoist classics are called "Dragon and Tiger Sutra" and refined pills are called "Dragon and Tiger Pills". In Buddhism, tigers have also been domesticated as "Zen tigers" to serve the propaganda of Buddhism.

The Significance of South China to Tigers

In southern China, because the pronunciation of "tiger" and "fu" is similar, the tiger has become a symbol of happiness. For example, the "five tigers (blessings) picture" in the southern New Year pictures belongs to this category. In addition, northern women also like to cut out all kinds of tiger-themed window grilles with red paper. The image is simple and lovely, posted on doors, windows and indoors, creating an auspicious and rich atmosphere.

The tiger is a symbol of power.

The tiger symbol is a military symbol used by the ancient emperors when dispatching troops. It is a tiger-shaped token made of bronze or gold, which is divided into two halves, the left half for the general and the right half for the emperor. Only when two tiger symbols are combined at the same time can the holder of the symbol get the right to transfer troops.

The symbol of the tiger first appeared in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. At that time, the bronze tiger was used as a transfer certificate issued by the central government to local officials or garrison leaders, and was called the tiger symbol. There is an inscription on the back of the drum, which is divided into two halves. The right half is kept in the imperial court, and the left half is given to generals or local governors. It is always dedicated to a place and a symbol. It is absolutely impossible to mobilize troops from two places at the same time with one roller. It takes two halves to verify the truth before it takes effect. In the Chinese History Museum, there is a 7.9 cm long, 2.5 cm long, tiger-shaped, flat-headed, with two lines of seal characters engraved between the left and right neck ribs. The words are the same, saying that "Hu Fu takes Tang Yanghou first". The Shaanxi History Museum in xi also has a tiger sign found in the western suburbs of Xi. After inspection, it is a cultural relic of the Warring States Period from 475 BC to 22 BC1year. It was called the symbol of "Du" in Qin Dynasty. 4 cm high, shaped like a tiger, symbolizing military strength and urgent March. The body of the tiger symbol is engraved with a 40-word gold inscription, which describes the object and scope of transfer, but it is extremely beautifully made.

The tiger is a symbol of justice, courage but not gentleness and majesty.

Tiger is one of the 12 Zodiacs, ranking third, and its earthly branch is Yin, so it is called Yin Tiger.

The tiger has always been worshipped by the Han people. It is a symbol of justice, courage and majesty. According to textual research, the image of tiger also appeared in ancient Qiang and Rong nationalities, but it was most popular in southwest China. Jade cong of Liangzhu culture in Neolithic Age and bronze wares in Yin and Shang Dynasties have similar animal faces and tiger images. To this day, the Yi, Bai, Buyi, Tujia and other ethnic groups in China still call tigers their ancestors. People in the Han Dynasty regarded the tiger as the king of beasts. The white tiger is one of the four great beasts in ancient times. Immortals often use the white tiger to ascend to heaven. The white tiger is the beast of Zhenxi. Since the Han Dynasty, the tiger has always been the favorite protector of the working people, but it is not a symbol of the emperor. After a long historical evolution and development, the cultural awareness of tiger worship has become an unchangeable cultural concept of the Chinese nation.

Shu Wei, a scholar in the Qing Dynasty, wrote a poem in Red Miao, the Ci of Zhi Zhu, Qian Miao: "Weaving silk does not compete with people, but turning bronze drums to compete with mountain gods. The two feelings are speechless, and the vacancy tonight is to avoid yin. " Yin is a tiger, who dares to violate the custom of avoiding Yin? If couples sleep in the same room on the moon, tigers will hurt them. The custom of avoiding shade is circulated by some local people.

Tiger hat and tiger shoes

In the legend of China, the tiger is full of sense of justice. According to historical records, Shan Hai Jing? "Chinese and Western Classics in the Sea" contains: Kunlun in the sea is in the northwest, under the emperor. There are nine doors on the surface, guarded by enlightened beasts, and God is there. Ming Kai beast "is a big tiger, but all nine songs are human", with a strange image. Is the guardian of the holy mountain Kunlun Mountain. And Shan Hai Jing? "Xishan Jing" said: "Four hundred miles southwest, the hill of Kunlun Mountain, the capital of the real emperor, is under the control of the Luwu God. Its god-like tiger body and Kyubi no Youko, human face and Tiger Claw; It is also a god, nine points in heaven, and the emperor. " It is also the owner of Kunlun Mountain.

The justice of the tiger is awe-inspiring, which makes the ancients believe that it can drive away the three major disasters of the family: fire, theft and evil. Therefore, some families hang tiger paintings at home, facing the gate, to prevent demons from invading, let children wear tiger hats, put on tiger shoes to ward off evil spirits, and sleep on tiger pillows to make themselves stronger. People often use tiger paintings, tiger faces and Humen gods to pray for evil spirits. Therefore, the tiger symbolizes blessing and evil spirits.