虎 Tiger

Characteristics

The Tiger is traditionally pictured as bold, confident and competitive — a natural leader with a strong sense of justice and a taste for a challenge. Folk sayings cast it as brave and warm-hearted but headstrong. As always these are cultural associations carried in tradition, not descriptions of any particular person.

History

Third in the cycle and the earthly branch 寅 (yín), the Tiger is the king of beasts in Chinese lore and a powerful guardian figure. Its image is painted on children’s shoes and hats and on doorways to drive off harm, and the character 王 ("king") is read into the stripes on its brow. Few zodiac animals carry as much protective, warding symbolism.

In the Great Race

A strong swimmer, the Tiger plunged into the river confident of winning, but the current was fierce and kept pushing the great cat downstream. By the time it hauled itself, soaked and breathless, onto the far bank, the Rat and the Ox were already ashore, and the Tiger took third place — its struggle against the water remembered as proof of sheer power and determination.

The five elements

Tradition tints the Tiger by element through the cycle: a Wood Tiger is spoken of as more co-operative, a Fire Tiger as especially dynamic, an Earth Tiger as more grounded, a Metal Tiger as sharper-edged, and a Water Tiger as calmer and more open-minded. These are cultural flavours laid over the same bold animal, never predictions.

Recent & upcoming years

Further reading

• Wikipedia: Tiger (zodiac)
• Wikipedia: Chinese zodiac
• Britannica: Chinese zodiac (owner to confirm)