The symbolism of Year of The Tiger tattoos in ancient culture and religion

A Year of the Tiger tattoo is often used as a symbol for protection. In China, images of tigers are worn or used as charms to protect from evil. Stone tigers are common outside houses and other buildings and during the Chou dynasty, images of tigers were hung in the rooms of pregnant women to protect their unborn babies.

Tiger by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1798 - 1861

Tigers feature regularly in myths and legends of Asian Culture and religion. Hindus believe that the God Shiva rides upon a tiger and that he wears a tiger skin for his role as a destroyer.

Bhuddists believe that the original followers of Buddha rode tigers to show their supernatural ability and to combat and overcome evil. In Buddhism, the Tiger is also known as one of the Three Senseless Creatures, symbolising anger, while the monkey represents greed and the deer lovesickness.

In India many of the forest and jungle dwelling people worshipped the Tiger as Gods, constructing shrines and temples to worship them. The widely worshiped Hindu goddess Durga is a ten-armed warrior who rides either a tigress or lioness into battle. In southern India the god Aiyappa was associated with a tiger. While in Sumatra, the followers of Islam believe tigers punish sinners on behalf of Allah.

Tigers in Asia have always been regarded as a symbol of strength and royal power and in Asian courts were used as “executioners” . Only noblemen were permitted to hunt the tiger. They established extensive tiger game reserves, to ensure they always had adequate supply of tigers for hunting. These game reserves helped preserve the species to some extent by providing a habitat that was not encroached by humans.

Whereas in Europe and Africa the Lion has always been regarded as The King of Beasts, in Asia, the Tiger is regarded as The King of Animals. If you look at the markings on a tigers forehead, you can often make out a marking: 王. This resembles the Chinese character for “king”, which is why many Chinese cartoon pictures of the tiger feature this symbol.

In China, the Tiger has huge importance, being one of the 12 signs of the Chinese Zodiac and the year 2010 is of particular significance as the Year of the Tigerstarted on 14 February 2010.