TIGER LANTERN: On Xinghai Square in Dalian city in northeast China's Liaoning Province a large lantern has been set up for the coming Year of the Tiger (LU WENZHENG)

In the Chinese lunar calendar, every year corresponds with an animal. Twelve animals—rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig—make up the zodiac and symbolize different years. The year 2010 is the Year of Hu, or the Year of the Tiger.

In the sequence of the 12 animal signs, the tiger ranks third. Just as the Western world takes the lion as the king of all animals, the Chinese have long granted the tiger the same significance in their culture. From a Chinese perspective, the tiger is the symbol of power because of its supreme hegemony in the forest over other animals and is used to modify things of authority and strength. For example, a tiger amulet refers to a tiger-shaped tally issued to generals as imperial authorization for troop movements in ancient China. A "tiger general" refers to a general as brave as a tiger.

Dating back to ancient farming society, the tiger was one of the four lucky animals capable of keeping away evil spirits and bringing happiness and good luck.

In China, the culture of tiger is one of the totem cultures with the longest history. Although it was not chosen as the token animal of an emperor, the tiger is still seen as the symbol of uprightness, bravery and majesty by the Chinese people. Not only do tigers frequent folk tales, folk paintings and dramas, but we also observe the image of the tiger in Spring Festival paintings, paper-cuts, sculpture, embroidery and fabric. In these uses, the tiger, as a lucky animal, is used to protect families and wealth from disasters.

BIG CATS' WORLD: Sales of objects that feature tigers are booming in the commodities center of Yiwu in east China's Zhejiang Province as the Spring Festival draws closer and closer (TAN JIN)

The culture related with tigers in China first appeared along the Yellow River, China's second longest river. One of the proofs of the early tiger worship was found in a 6,000 to 7,000-year-old tomb discovered in central China's Henan Province. In the discovery, a tiger was constructed of clamshells with a total length of 1.39 meters and a height of 0.63 meter. This clamshell tiger has been identified as the earliest tiger totem found in China.

The tiger culture that originated in central China later spread to the south bank of the Yangtze River, the longest river in the country, along with the central population's southbound migration as a result of wars and changing in dynasties. The central region's tiger culture gradually integrated with the southern culture and tradition and formed new folk traditions and customs connected to the tiger.

In Chinese language, the tiger, or hu, is a frequently used character. Some famous places and scenic sights use the character hu in their names, for example, Tiger Hill Pagoda in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Tiger Run Spring in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Tigers' Ditch in Hanzhong, west China's Shaanxi Province, and Tiger Leaping Gorge in Lijiang, southwest China's Yunnan Province.