Tiger, List # 75

Narrator

This tiger, discovered at Jinsha, is consistent with other pieces found throughout Sichuan at this time. In many Chinese cultures, such as the Central Plain, animals represent each cardinal point of the compass: north-by a tortoise, east-a dragon, south-a bird, and the tiger for the west. The tiger is also a symbol of death and the world of the spirit.

There is no way to know if tigers had the same meaning for the people of Sanxingdui and Jinsha. Could this be their own creation? Or might it suggest they were trading with other cultures near and far?

Contact with the rest of China brings up another interesting possibility. In some Chinese cultures bronze pieces of this size and design were used as a form of identification, called a tally.

Suzanne Cahill

It would be split into two pieces, and for example, if a general wanted to send somebody on an important mission, and have him be able to verify his identity, the general would take one-half of the tally and give it to the officer he was appointing to this special task. And then when the officer got to where he had to identify himself, he would present the tiger, and that would prove that he was who he said he was. So it's kind of like a passport.

Narrator

Other bronze tigers discovered, like the one [SFX] seen here from Sanxingdui, are decorated with elaborate turquoise inlays. Their function also remains a question.