Tiger Tattoo Designs

In a previous post I mentioned about common mistakes in Chinese Tattoos, so please bear these in mind when considering what symbols you could add to your Year of the Tiger tattoo! However, one way to make your Chinese Tiger Tattoo unique to you is to add the symbol for the element or attribute of the year in which you were born.

The Chinese symbol for Metal

2010 was the Year of the White Tiger, and the last year of the White Tiger was 1950. You were born in the Year of the White Tiger if your birthday was between 17 February 1950 and 05 February 1951. However, its correct name is The Year of the Metal Tiger.

As with the Western Zodiac, the Chinese Zodiac signs are divided up into elements. The Chinese elements, or attributes, are: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal, which are slightly different to the Western elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth.

Each attribute lasts for a period of two Chinese astrological years, so not only was 2010 a “metal” year – the following year, 2011 was “metal” too. 2011 was The Year of the White Rabbit – or The Year of the Metal Rabbit, which started on 03 February 2011.

As with each of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, each element has its own attributes. Those born under the sign with an attribute of Metal have qualities such as persistence, rigidity, unyieldingness, strength and determination.

Metal is very strong and the Metal person can be ambitious, forceful, controlling and very set in their ways. The closest friends and relatives of Metal people can end up feeling shut out as they can be frustratingly self-reliant, preferring to deal with their problems on their own.

The metal person is also materialistic, business minded, good at organising and loves stability. However they also appreciate luxury and enjoy the good things in life.

Just as metal conducts electricity, Metal people can have very strong impulses and can influence change and transformation in those with whom they come into close contact.

In the body, Metal is believed to govern the lungs, nose and skin. The negative emotion associated with Metal people is grief, while their positive emotion is courage.

Other attributes will be covered in future posts:

08 February 1902 – 28 January 1903: Water Tiger
26 January 1914 – 13 February 1915: Wood Tiger
13 February 1926 – 01 February 1927: Fire Tiger
31 January 1938 – 18 February 1939: Earth Tiger
17 February 1950 – 05 February 1951: Metal Tiger
05 February 1962 – 24 January 1963: Water Tiger
23 January 1974 – 10 February 1975: Wood Tiger
09 February 1986 – 28 January 1987: Fire Tiger

But as I have said before (and will keep saying, ha ha), it is absolutely essential to have any symbols you want to use on your Year of the Tiger Tattoo translated by an expert!!