Tiger in Mythology and Culture
Asia the tiger is associated with the power and might of
kings. Koreans call it the 'King of the Animals'. China,
tiger images are used as charms to ward off evil and they
are seen as a divine power and are the Yang (Good) in
the eternal fight against the dragon of Yin (Evil). Chinese
maintain that Tigers protect them and that the Tiger
stood at each of the 4 cardinal points of the ocmpass and
prevented horrile demons from entering the Earth. Amber
is thought to be the soul of the tiger, hiding in the soil
after death. Asian cultures have stories about weretigers,
people who can change themselves into tigers. Tigers are
sacred to the Udege people who live in the Bikin basin,
which is a virtually untouched forest area and home to
about 10% of the remaining population of Amur Tigers.
In Malaysia beliefs of creatures known as 'Were-tigers'.
Also the people of sumatra and Java believe in Were-
tigers. It is said in Java that the Tigers hearing is so acute
that humters must keep hteir nostril hairs trimmed for
fear the Tiger will hear their vreath whistle through their
noses. In Russia the Tiger is considered a God and is
believed to be the very spirit of the Taiga (a nearly
continuous belt of coniferous trees) and the Guardian of
the foresta and mountains.
Japan, have a tiger that is a mythical, it is said to live a
thousand years.
In China the Tiger represents Orion and also:
White Tiger represents the earth, the West, the region
of death, and is guardian of graves.
Blue Tiger represents the East and plant life.
Red Tiger represents the South and fire.
Black Tiger represents the North and winter.
Yellow Tiger represent the Sun.