Red-Striped Tiger/Origin

Origin
The tiger  is the largest cat species and the third largest land carnivore. Its most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with a lighter underside.

Throughout Chinese history, the tiger has incited a sense of both awe and admiration: its prowess, its ferocity, its beauty, and the harmony of the opposites. The tiger is full of life and embodies the spirit and drive to achieve and make progress. The tiger represents the masculine principle in nature and is king of all the animals, as shown by the four stripes on his forehead, which form the character Wang (Prince/King). In Chinese folk tales, tigers kill evil men and protect good men. Tiger charms are used to keep away disease and evil, and babies are given colourfully embroidered tiger shoes for protection. The "Tiger Claw" (hu chao) amulet is believed to ward off sudden fright and give the wearer the courage of the tiger.

The tiger represents the greatest earthly power, as well as protection over human life. It chases away the so-called "three disasters": fire, thieves and ghosts. Tigers are considered a yang energy, and are also a solar animal which associates them with symbolisms of the sun, summer and fire. In ancient Chinese myth there are five tigers that hold the balance of cosmic forces in place and prevent chaos from collapsing into the universe. The Red Tiger is the ruler of the Summer season and governor of the Fire elementals.