But other cultures have a special place for the tiger as well. The tiger is the national animal for many Asian countries. In Chinese culture, tigers are highly regarded for the contribution their body parts make to traditional medicine. Their life-saving qualities make them a very important animal which has inspired many works of art and literature. The Chinese calendar even acknowledges the Year of the Tiger. In India, the tiger is considered a symbol of power and beauty. The animal is a part of the Hindu religion's mythology and is respected for it's role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.
Sources:
http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/priority_species/royal_bengal_tiger/faq/http://www.tigers-world.com/tigers-in-culture.html
http://www.tigersofindia.com/Tigers-in-literature-and-popular-culture.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_in_Chinese_culture
It is interesting that the tiger is respected for its role in maintaining the ecosystem. They are predators at the top of the food chain. It shows that every animal has its role in the ecosystem. Without the predatory roles the ecosystem could not work how it does.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense that the tiger is a symbol of power. This is probably due to its role in the ecosystem as well. In the history of humans, we have always seemed to pursue powerful animals in order to receive that power by eating their body parts (hearts, penis, etc). In the time of hunter gatherers, these animals must have been looked at as role models for controlled violence in the pursuit of food.
amazing to see how the tiger has been respected by many different cultures in many different ways for such a long time.
ReplyDelete