With the Spring Festival approaching, the streets and alleys of Chengdu have long been decorated with various forms of tiger patterns, and people's enthusiasm for welcoming the Year of the Tiger can be seen.
So do you know where tigers originated? What is the "stone daring" that Chinese used to ward off evil spirits in the town house? Why did the Yongzheng Emperor play an imitation show and stage a good play of hunters fighting tigers? What story does "Medicine King Cross the Tiger" tell?
The answers to these questions can be found in the Jinsha Site Museum.
Exhibition scene (Photo by Zhang Yan)
On January 27th, the "Tiger and Tiger Shengfu - Nonyin Tiger Year New Year Zodiac Cultural Relics (Photo) Joint Exhibition" was officially opened at the Jinsha Site Museum. The exhibition is guided by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, co-sponsored by China Cultural Relics Newspaper, Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum and more than 50 museums across the country. Through more than 100 high-definition pictures of tiger cultural relics, specimens and artworks and more than 20 tiger culture art works created by Primary School students in Jinsha, the exhibition presents the multi-faceted image of tigers in the natural world, history and culture and folk life, and tells the unique zodiac culture. This is also one of the six major exhibitions presented by the Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum during the Spring Festival of the Year of the Tiger for the audience.
Demon Devourer, it is a Chinese divine beast that rides hand in hand with dragons
According to the existing archaeological evidence, the tiger originated in China and has evolved over the past 10,000 years. In traditional culture, the tiger is regarded as a beast that symbolizes courage, strength and wealth because of its unique royal demeanor, gorgeous beauty and deterrent power that does not anger and arrogance.
The tomb of the mussel sculpture "Dragon and Tiger" at the site of Xishuipo in Puyang, Henan
Since the Yangshao culture of 6500 years ago, the image of the tiger has appeared in Chinese history, and it is often called a dragon, forming a cultural symbol of dragon and tiger. In the tomb of the clam sculpture "Dragon tiger" at the site of Xishuipo in Puyang, Henan, people used mussel shells to mold dragons and tigers, placing them on the left and right sides of tribal leaders, hoping that their ancestors would also be blessed after death.
Shi Hu, collection of Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum
In the ancient Shu civilization represented by the Jinsha site and the Sanxingdui site, there is also a clear "tiger worship". For example, the bronze tiger found in the Sanxingdui site and the Jinsha site sacrifice area, the exquisitely designed and vibrant Jinsha stone tiger, and the cute and sparkling Sanxingdui golden tiger. These tiger-shaped cultural relics were unearthed in areas dedicated to sacrifices, witnessing the sacredness and splendor of the grand sacrifices of the ancient Shu kingdom more than 3,000 years ago.
Tiger town bafang, it is a symbol of military power and bravery
The tiger's might is awe-inspiring, and its power is desirable. Ancient emperors often decorated various weapons and ceremonial instruments with tigers, and used the deterrent power of tigers to highlight their social status.
The most typical example is the tiger charm, a relic of the dispatch of troops. The Tiger Charm is generally divided into two halves, half of which is controlled by the king, and the other half is placed in the hands of the military commander in charge of the army, and the two halves can be combined to send troops. One of the most familiar is the Du Hu Fu in the Warring States period.
Du Hufu, Shaanxi History Museum
In addition, from the official seal of the party to the seal of the general, all kinds of tiger seals have become symbols of power and status; the hammer chún (musical instrument, equivalent to a horn) that commands soldiers to advance and retreat in war, the flag used by officers and soldiers, the weapons used by attack, and the shield of defense can be seen; even the soldiers who dare to charge into the battlefield are also called tiger generals, tiger ministers, tiger soldiers, etc., which shows that tigers have a pivotal role in ancient military. So much so that in order to reflect his bravery, the Yongzheng Emperor did not hesitate to play COSPLAY and transformed into a hunter to stage a good play of fighting tigers on the mountain.
Ward off evil spirits and welcome auspiciousness, it is a mascot loved by people
"Dragon leaping tiger leap", "tiger tiger vitality", "like a tiger adding wings"... A variety of auspicious words, full of people's good wishes for the New Year. Although the majesty of the tiger in the ancient system of political life is self-evident, when it leaves the ruling class and enters the people, it has another warmth. People believe that tigers can distinguish between good and evil, ward off demons and exorcisms, prolong life, and protect children's growth, so they use gold, silver, jade, stone, wood and other materials to create various types of tiger-shaped instruments as "mascots" to ward off evil and welcome good luck.
Cizhou kiln system white glazed black flower Crouching Tiger pillow, Zhoukou City Museum collection
Among them, tiger pillows are one of the most commonly used daily necessities. Folklore says that the sleeping tiger pillow has the meaning of auspiciousness and peace, so in the Tang, Song and Jin dynasties, there were porcelain tiger pillows, and the craftsmanship was continuously improved, forming a distinct artistic style.
It is reported that in addition to the dazzling tigers on the picture board, Sands also moved the new cultural creation to the exhibition site. Year of the Tiger Calendar, Cute Tiger Red Packet, Tiger Lantern, Divine Bird Mug... It's full of lively Chinese New Year atmosphere.
Red Star News reporter | Zeng Qi
Edited | Duan Xueying
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