Year of the Tiger: Legend and reality
ACCORDING to a Chinese legend, the Tiger is associated with the role of taking on the strong to protect the weak. Famous "Tigers" include key Chinese historical leader Sun Yat-sen (a basis for the December 2009 movie release, "Bodyguards and Assassins"), legendary world traveller Marco Polo, famous wartime American president Dwight D Eisenhower and celebrated actress Marilyn Monroe.
Other "Tigers" that you may recognise: Queen Elizabeth II; composer Beethoven; musicians Enya, Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Paul Abdul; actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Michelle Yeoh, Jodie Foster, Sir Alec Guiness; major American poet Emily Dickinson; writers Judy Blume, Emily Bronte, Beatrix Potter.
But we are puzzled: Isn't the Lion a more appropriate occupant of the Chinese Zodiac? So, how indeed did the Tiger get on the Zodiac?