Sunday, April 24, 2011

The Friendly Asian Tiger Collectible

The stories about the Asian tiger are very powerful. The legends are genuinely alluring because the tiger is something many people throughout the world find interesting. There is something about the tiger that is seductive, but it also warns us of danger. When it comes to the Asian tiger collectible, the enticement to have one in your home or office is seemingly irresistible. When a person learns even a few of the stories about these Asian tigers, it is not difficult to be tempted to get your own Chinese tiger figurine!

In old Korea, only unmarried, young people would wear brightly colored attire. This way their youth and beauty would stand out for all to see, especially other young people. The married people had to wear drab tan or gray clothing. The elderly people would wear white, which is quite interesting. In any case, the worship of nature spirits was very commonplace among Asian people no matter where they came from. In one story a Korean teenage boy follows a very beautiful, young girl home one day. However, the boy got more than he bargained for! A tiger was her guardian and protector. The tiger was a powerful ally and capable of fierce retribution. The young girl's innocence was safeguarded by this tiger, who may have been a nature spirit in physical form. No one really knows for sure, but the implication is certainly there. There is also an exquisite painting of this story called "The Tiger Girl."

The ancient symbol for the Chinese tiger is famous throughout Asia. The emblem itself signifies dignity, ferocity, sternness, courage, and (by itself) is considered Yin energy. Therefore, as a symbol of protection, the image is often worn on clothing or is placed around one's home. In doing this it is thought that the power of the tiger will help ward off harm and assure safekeeping. In fact, the people in certain areas of China and Asia consider the "Tiger" to be the God of Wealth. While the Tiger symbol may not be as dominant as the Dragon, it is still a highly honored piece to own.

In reality, the South Chinese tiger species is worthy of consideration as the possible source for much of Asia's fascination with the Tiger symbol. The South Chinese tiger (Panthera tigris amoyenis) is also known as the Chinese Amoy or Xiamen tiger. It is a subspecies of tiger native to the forests and jungles of South China in particular. The tiger is one of the smaller species. Sadly, it is also the most critically endangered of any living tiger species. Experts in this area of study insist that there are possibly fewer than 20 of these special tigers left in the wild. They also warn that the South Chinese tiger could become extinct within the next decade or so. The Chinese tiger is thought to be the stem tiger which all other tigers may have originated, according to these experts. No matter the case, the South Chinese tiger has been listed more recently as one of the world's 10 most endangered animals.

This subspecies of tiger is one of the smallest of its known breed. Male tigers measure about 2.6 m or 8 ft. from head to tail. They weigh about 150 kg or 330 lbs. The female tiger is smaller, measuring about 2.3 m or 7.5 ft. long. The female weighs about 110 kg or 240 lbs. It is noteworthy that the short, broad stripes of this tiger are spaced far apart when compared with the stripes of the Bengal or Amur tiger breeds.

Since the year 1990, China's State Forestry Administration has been leading the effort to preserve the South Chinese tiger from extinction through the establishment of special Nature Reserves for the 10 to 30 Chinese tigers believed to be left in the wilderness. A 1987 study by Chinese scientists also reported a few tigers remaining in the Guangdong mountain area, which borders Hunan and Jiangxi Provinces. Still, another survey in 1990 noted evidence of about a dozen tigers in 11 reserves in remote mountain areas of Guangdong, Hunan, and Fujian Provinces. These provinces are all located in South China. However, no actual tigers were seen.

All these reasons cited are valuable information to the collector of the Asian tiger figurine. They inform us all of the special place that the Asian tiger has in a anyone's home or place of business to enhance their decor strategy. The are indeed enchanting pieces to own simply because of their legendary appeal, their beloved history, and their actual existence in our world today. There could easily be a Tiger on the Asian collectibles market right now who is ready for you to bring it home to serve as your personal protector. Good luck in finding your new friend!

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