In China, the tiger is considered the king of all beasts (not the lion) and represents powerful energy. Further, the tiger is associated with Tsai Shen Yeh, the Chinese God of Wealth, and this god is usually seen sitting on a tiger in Asian art.
Asian lore considers the tiger the protector of the dead, and will often be seen in graves as a mark of protection, assuring peace for those who have passed.
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.
These five tigers are:
* White Tiger: ruler of the Fall season and governor of the Metal elementals
* Black Tiger: ruler of the Winter season and governor of the Water elementals
* Blue Tiger: ruler of the Spring season and governor of the Earth elementals
* Red Tiger: ruler of the Summer season and governor of the Fire elementals
* Yellow Tiger: the supreme ruler of all these tigers and symbolic of the Sun
