12 Zodiac animals

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Umadoshi: Charging into 2026

Welcome 2026! As the 1st post of the year, we start off with a review of this year’s Zodiac sign. For those who follow this on their own, or have seen related posts on social media, are aware that the Zodiac animal is the horse. Although the Lunar year officially starts on February 17th, there’s so much talk about it that many have been preparing in advance. What’s in the horizon for us under this hardworking & dependable animal? From the looks of things, this year is very dynamic and can either open the doors to great opportunities or unexpected challenges.

In this article, we will cover the natural perceptions the physical horse, and their roles in society over the ages. Following that will be the breakdown of the Zodiac sign, the components that make up the predictions for this year, along with some well known phrases & expressions.

An image of a horse representing the new year. From Photo-AC.

MANKIND’S BEST COMPANION

Looking at the history of the horse, whether Asia or other parts of the world, it’s not hard to grasp just how big of a role they have played. Whether carrying warriors into battle, pulling carts for passengers or goods, or running at breakneck speed to deliver it’s rider to their destination, the horse is a creature that has walked side-by-side with humans due to its ease in domestication and the various ways in how they help us.

The depiction of horses is just as amazing in myths and fables. Chinese culture helped plant the seeds for this, with many legendary tales depicting horses as powerful creatures, representatives of status for the aristocrats, as well as symbols of brave companions for great heroes. There are many interpretations of them possessing amazing traits or supernatural abilities, including tales of a particular half-horse, half-dragon hybrid. Japan was influenced by these through culturual exchange. With literary works, teachings from Buddism as well as Shinto teachings, Japan society also was graced with many vivid images of horses acting as messengers of deities, as well as transportation for them when they descend from the heavens to the earthly realm.

With horses bearing so many respectable qualities such a sturdy & fast legs, a strong sense of independence, and being a reliable companion to humans, the horse sign tends to be viewed in a positive light, usually bringing good fortune.

INTERPRETING THE ZODIAC

The year of the horse is pronounced as “umadoshi” (午年) In Japanese. Linguistically, the proper kanji for horse is “馬”, with the pronunciation being “uma”. However, the sign/kanji used to represent the horse in the Zodiac system is “午”, which had no association with the horse in its early conception within China until centuries later. How was it interpreted before this? During the earlier period when the Zodiac system was devised and was understood mainly through the seed/plant analogy, the “午” kanji possessed the meaning of a fully grown plant showing signs of withering.

When the Zodiac was interjected into society more, the horse imagery was attached to this sign, making it easier to remember amongst the masses. Through this, it became more natural for the sign’s readings like “energetic spirit”, “success”, and “the power to win” to be interpreted through human’s relationship with the horse.

ZODIAC USAGE IN EVERYDAY LIFE

The following below is a list of useful data concerning this year’s Zodiac sign and how it played a role in the daily lives of people in the past.

  • Zodiac number: 7th sign
  • Pronunciation: go (original)
  • Direction: south / true south¹
  • Time: between 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (usually points to 12 pm)
  • Month: 5th month (old calendar), 6th month (modern calendar)
  • Ying/Yang: yang
  • Element: fire

While not significant in modern times, there’s still use of these today in specialized fields. Here’s a few related tidbits pertaining to the horse sign:

  • It is one of the cardinal directions, being the opposite of north
  • Just as how the north and south poles do not meet², the horse sign and mouse sign of the Zodiac are generally said to be opposites, thus not getting along³
  • Represents the afternoon, when the sun is at its highest in the sky⁴

THE BLAZING HORSE

We’ve covered the Zodiac animal. Now, let’s look at the energy for this year. Following the 5 Elements and Ying/Yang concept, the energy for this year is light, while the 10-Heavenly Stems, in its 43rd year, falls on the fire element. The sign used in the 10-Heavenly Stems system representing fire is “丙” or “hinoe”. Together, this energy/element combo gives off a sense of a flame as big & bright as the sun, wrapping everything around in its warmth. When applied to humans, it means someone who is overflowing with vibrant life energy.

An image of a fire horse, blazing the ground with each step. Is it charging forward to glory, or will it burn out into failure? By Erkut2 from pixabay

As mentioned earlier, the horse sign is already associated with the fire element. In conjunction with the hinoe sign, we have double fire elements, which happens once in the 60-year Zodiac cycle. It’s easy to focus on this on a positive sense, such as “being fueled with passion and charging forward with near unlimited energy to see our goals completed”. However, there is also the negative side of this, such as being overbearing and blind through “passion”. Such a hot-headed, unyielding personality can lead to chaos.

Thus, with double fire energy coming from both the Zodiac horse and the 10-Heavenly Stems, we get the proper name for the year as “hinoe-uma”, or “fire horse”.

HOW TO APPROACH FORTUNE IN THE NEW YEAR

What’s the prediction for this year’s Zodiac? Normally, the Zodiac horse is read as a sign with good fortunate. In fact, it falls in line with the dog and tiger Zodiacs as being the 3 lucky signs⁵.

Those born in the year of the “fire horse” are said to have a fiery passion when approaching their tasks, and charge head on with an energetic spirit to succeed. All this is possible with little need for rest. For the sake of success, others born under different signs should follow suit in order to see fortune come their way, despite whatever obstacles that may come up. Yet, one must also be careful of burnout, and running headlong towards failure. To stay on track, we must take time to stop, be patience, take proper guidance, and possess a vision of what we want to accomplish and how.

While the traits are similar between men and women born in the year of the horse other than for some small differences (i.e. men enjoying their solo time, women more straight forward with their feelings), there are always those words of caution regarding avoiding disaster, sometimes told through old tales. For this year, there is a lingering superstition about women needing to take caution about letting their passionate emotion run amok. This is tied to certain real-life events that took place early in the Edo period. I plan to cover this in another article, so look out for that discussion later.

PHRASES & EXPRESSIONS

The Zodiac signs have no shortage of interesting phrases that have interesting, and at times humorous, meanings. There are plenty related to the horse, all fitting in many unique categories.

The following two are said to be good references to the 2026 Zodiac year.

  • ウマくいく / 馬九行久 (uma kuiku; quick horse)
    This means being adept to quickly take on any request at a drop of a dime.

    A little more on this phrase, it’s a play on words using the word “uma” and following it with the phonetics of 9 (ku), the 1st syllable from the word “to go” (i) and one of the phonetics of the word “long duration of time” (ku) to create the sound of the word “quick”.
  • 馬力 (bariki; horse power)
    A simple phrase wishing one to have a year where they are filled with strength and vitality.

Now here’s a select few. There are quite a good number of old ones here, with some dating back to ancient Chinese proverbs.

  • 人間万事塞翁が馬 (ningen banji saiō ga uma; a horse can represent the unexpected fortunes and hardships humans face in life)
    Reflecting the tone for this year, the meaning for this phrase is taking all that comes one’s way, whether it be good fortune or bad luck. In other words, accept the unpredictability of life experiences.⁶
  • 勝ち馬に乗る (kachi uma ni noru; ride on the victory horse)
    This is used when a person “rides” on the coattail of someone who’s on the fast track to success in order to benefit as well.
  • 千里の馬は常に有れども伯楽は常に無し (senri no uma ha tsune ni aridomo hakuraku ha tsune ni nashi; even if you have a famed running horse, it won’t be put to good use if there’s no skilled horse trader to evaluate its value)
    A well-known yet lengthy phrase that originates from the Chinese scholar Han Yu’s⁷ “Zassetsu”⁸, it stresses that a qualified leader can distinguish those who possesses outstanding abilities. Without this, those individuals won’t be able to shine.
  • 馬の耳に念仏 (uma no mimi ni nenbutsu; reciting Buddhist invocation to a horse)
    A phrase that paints a vivid image, but is not straightforward. The meaning expressed here is the uselessness of preaching to a person who doesn’t have the capacity to understand the topic. There are many types of expressions like this using the horse analogy, but worded differently.
  • 老いたる馬は道を忘れず (oitaru uma wa michi wo wasurezu; an old horse never forgets the road taken)
    We can interpret this saying referencing a person who is wise and has good judgement. These traits are apparent with how accurate they are able to handle an unforeseen situation, which is usually something earned by those with experience.
  • 馬子にも衣装 (mago ni mo ishō; the packhorse driver can also don on fine garments)
    The meaning behind this is that anyone, even those of low qualities or status, can look magnificent through wearing the right outfits.

ENDING

This covers the horse Zodiac sign for the new year. There are a few more articles being prepped to match the theme for this year. Until then, wish everyone to have a good start on any planned goals, and charge forward (with good judgement) to see them through to the very end!

1) There are 4 absolute directions, which are tied to a Zodiac animal equivalent: true north (mouse), true south (horse), true east (rabbit), and true west (rooster).

2) North & south are connected linearly on a perfect longitude of 0° and 180°. Speaking of which, in relations to Earth, the meridian line that divides the earth into east hemisphere and west hemisphere is called “shigosen” (子午線) in Japanese, which uses the Zodiac kanji for the mouse and the horse.

3) In terms of a person’s personality and compatibility, Zodiac readings normally say that the horse and mouse cannot get along due to being total opposites (i.e the horse being hard-working and independent, while the mouse being clever and opportunist). Of course, this should not be taken as fact.

4) The Japanese word for afternoon is “gozen” (午前), which also uses the same kanji for the horse in the Zodiac.

5) To elaborate, these three Zodiac signs form what is called “sangō kakyoku” (三合火局), due to their strong fire energy. This is according to a fortunetelling method called “Shichū suimei” (四柱推命), which incorporates the 5 Elements and Ying/Yang concept.

6) This saying is a complex one! A bit of investigation was needed here, even to understand how to translate the saying into simple English. To really grasp the meaning is to understand the origin. There is an old philisophical book called “Huáinánzǐ” (淮南子, Enanji in Japanese) compiled by scholars from Huainan area during the reign of Emperor Wǔ dì (159 bc ~ 87 bc) in China’s early Han Dynasty. In this book is a short story that lays the roots to the saying, which is summarized as the following:

“There was an old man who resided in a castle up in the north. One day, his horse had escaped the castle walls and ran away. Perplexed, the worried old man went out and searched for it. In the end, he not only found the horse, but also gained a few more that was accompanying it.”

There are a few more short stories tied to this saying, but the one above is a good representation using the horse analogy.

7) Han Yu (韓愈) (768 – 824) is a famous figure who was a writer, scholar, and government official during the Tang Dynasty.

8) “Zassetsu” (雑説) is a collection of theories and short stories compiled by Han Yu.

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Hebidoshi: Welcome the New You

It’s the start of the year 2025, so I’ll kick off the first article in the usual pattern and review this year’s Zodiac sign and other related info. According to the Zodiac cycle, the sign for 2025 is the snake. Depending on the culture, impressions on anything snake-related can either be welcomed with open arms or shut out, despite whatever fortunes predicted. Before we get into any deep conversations, let’s take a look at the specifics of the sanke according to the Zodiac system, and its role in daily life in Japan’s past.

  • Zodiac number: 6th sign
  • Zodiac character: 巳
  • Pronunciation: mi
  • Animal / creature: snake
  • Direction: south – southeast
  • Time: between 9 am-11 am or 10 am-12pm
  • Month: 4th month (according to the old calendar)
  • Ying/Yang: dark
  • Element: fire / wood

Normally the kanji used for snake is “蛇”, which is pronounced as “hebi”. However, for the Zodiac sign the kanji “巳” is used in its place. With this, the Zodiac year is called “Hebidoshi” (巳年)¹, or Year of the Snake.

IMPRESSIONS AND FORTUNE OF THE SNAKE SIGN

What is the fortune we are to expect in this year of the snake? Before going forward, let’s first touch on the general image of the snake. Born and raised in the US, one will see that it’s not very favorable. Words such as sneaky, deceitful, dangerous, venomous, and (for those familiar with teachings from the bible) demonic all come from the negative concepts associated to this creature which persists in today’s society, and has varying levels of severity depending on each individual. It can be due to many factors, including bad experiences with them for those who settled here in this country’s infancy. Of course, it’s not all black & white, for there are plenty of people who view the image and qualities of a snake favorably, and may even say they are cool. It is not unusual to see some people have tattoos of snakes on their body…or even goes as far as having them as pets!

How are snakes viewed in Asia? I would say it’s mix bag, with some impressions positive, and others negative. Due to most Asian countries having a longer history, there is a better understanding on how to deal with it, as well as to make use of them in society. When it comes down to superstitions and stories, the snake has its place where it can represent many ideas, from appearing as a mysterious figure, being used as a messenger of deities, to being a god-like being. A unique trait seen in stories is its skin shedding, which at times is viewed as symbolic for undying. Remember this point, as this is closely tied to this year’s fortune.

BEARING FRUIT IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

In the Zodiac calendar of old, the kanji “巳” is pronounced as “mi”. This character’s original meaning is interpreted similarly to a common character “実” (jitsu), which is “fruits” or “nuts², which are the byproducts of seeds. Through the seed analogy, this Zodiac sign represents the imagry of when a seed has grown fully and is just right to “bear fruit”, which in turn can also mean “earnings”, both literally (for farmers, merchants, etc.) and metaphorically (locals, etc). As a fortune, it is predicted that this sign is effective for increase in earnings and luck.

With the snake now associated with the Zodiac sign, how does its image contribute to auspicious readings in Japan? A snake shedding its old, dead skin and revealing a shiny new one is akin to starting afresh, like getting rid of old baggage tied to failed or missed opportunities, which in turn will attract good luck. Metaphorically, this luck can represent 2 things:

  • One’s wounds being healed or receiving medical treatment to recover from illness
  • Having a stroke of luck or blessings, which can lead to great fortune

In accordance to receiving the goodness from what this Zodiac sign is predicted to give, people may wear accessories, carry charms, and the like that bear snake motifs on them.

THE WOODEN SNAKE

Now it’s time to talk about the 10 Heavenly Stems, which is the 2nd half of the Zodiac calendar. The sign that is tied to this year is “乙”, or read as “kinoto”, and is #2 in this system. It’s meaning is “kijimu” in Japanese, which refers to something being ajar or creaking open. Within The 5 Elements and Ying/Yang concept³ , this meaning has a harmonious feeling, where it’s interpreted as grass sprouting from the shadows of a tree, stretching outward and spreading into a flourishing field. Also, The element for kinoto this year is “wood” (木).

Together, the full title of this year is “kinoto-mi” (乙巳) in Japanese. In English, we can read this as “wood-snake”⁴.

PREDICTIONS AND WORDS OF WISDOM

To sum things up, popular key phrases related to this year used in Japan include:

  • Birth of the new me (新しい自分に生まれ変わる)
  • Seizing a bright & happy future (幸せな未来をつかむ)

Also, when addressing the full title, “kinoto-mi”, we can interpret it as “displaying the flexibility to adapt through constant revisions or reviving”. Key words that depict this include “vitality” (生命力) and “regeneration” (再生).

Finally, here are a few old sayings from Japan related to both the Zodiac year, as well as the auspicious views regarding snakes.

  • Hebi no yume wo miru to engi ga yoi (蛇の夢を見ると縁起がよい, if a snake appears in your dreams, it is a good sign)

    This is connected to fortune-telling based on a person’s dreams, where good luck or lots of fortune is in one’s future if a snake appears. Take note that this is but one of the many see-a-snake old sayings that exist in Japan, most with the same meaning.
  • Kaoku ni hebi ga sumu to kanemochi ni naru (家屋に蛇が住むと金持ちになる, when a snake resides in your home, you will become rich)

    Not to be taken literally, this saying relates to receiving good luck in the form of a particular snake deity taking residence in one’s home. If we go ahead and apply this saying in a more practical scenario, a snake living under one’s home can mean it will hunt and eat vermin and bugs, such as rats, keeping one’s home pest-free.
  • Hebi wa take no tsutsu ni irete mo massugu ni naranu (蛇は竹の筒に入れても真っすぐにならぬ, a snake will not be straight even if you put it in a bamboo tube)

    This phrase is an interesting one. To keep it simple, things will be as they are by nature, no matter what. If we take a snake for example, it will always bend and curl, even if stuffed in a tube. A better example is how when certain plants or trees grow with a bend in them, it is difficult to naturally straighten them.
  • Dappi shite motte orochi to naru (脱皮して以て大蛇と成る, when it sheds its old skin will it then become a giant serpent)

    The meaning for this is becoming a better person each time the weight of one’s past troubles are “peeled away”. This can also be used in a more positive manner torwards self-improvement, or even advancement in one’s career or craft, where you can become more skilled by always gaining more knowledge and re-innovation.
  • Hebi ni niramareta kaeru (蛇に睨まれた蛙, a frog whom a snake sets its gaze on)

    This refers to when a person encounters an enemy too strong to match. With nowhere to run or hide, fear sets in.
  • Hebi ni kamarete kuchinawa ni ojiru (蛇に噛まれて朽縄におじる, being bitten by a snake, you are frighten even by a worn-out rope)

    For this phrase, the message expressed here is that after a bad experience, you become more cautious to ensure you don’t repeat it. In the example of being bitten by a snake, a person would stop in their tracks the minute they see something similar in shape…such as a mere rope. Note that there is a bit of wordplay in this phrase, where the Japanese word for worn-out rope, “kuchinawa”(朽ち縄), is a play on an old word used for snake, which is pronounced the same way.

CLOSING

Just as the snake sheds its old skin and reveals a fresh new layer, we too have a chance to bring forth our “new” selves in the new year through self-improvement. Here’s hoping that good fortune awaits all uf us in 2025!

1) Can also be pronounced as “Midoshi”, which is the proper way to read this. On the other hand, it is not too unusual to use the appropriate snake kanji and write this year as “蛇年”.

2) By design, snakes had no relations with the original Zodiac character when the Zodiac system was first conceived. However, that changed over time as now “巳” is associated with these slithering creatures. It is even acceptable to read it as “hebi”.

3) Inyō Gogyō setsu (陰陽五行説)

4) Actually, there are 2 elements for this year. Under the 10 Heavenly Stem is the element wood, while under the 12 Zodiac is the element fire. Not sure how it all comes together and when either is referenced, but for the most part I have seen more emphasis on the “wood snake” labeling, so for the time being I will stick with this.

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2022: Be Inspired to do Big in the Year of the Tiger

It’s 2022! Let’s kick off in our usual fashion with an article on what the current Lunar Zodiac year is and what sign represents it. As many are aware, 2022 is the year of the tiger. Many have been sending out new year wishes accompanied with colorful images of tigers to help spread the word and support the Chinese Zodiac cycle. If we follow the actual chronological order of this ancient calendar, the correct date for this zodiac year is February 1st. Still, doesn’t mean we can’t get into the proper mindset and start 2022 right.

For this article, we’ll cover the specifics of the tiger sign, and what to expect the auspicious predictions for this year to be. Along with this, we’ll look at the societal and cultural influences the image of the tiger, as a whole, has had within the history of Japan.

UNDERSTANDING TORADOSHI

Under the Zodiac calendar, 2022’s zodiac animal is the tiger. So, we can call this the year of the tiger, or toradoshi (寅年) in Japanese. In many people’s minds, the imagery of a tiger symbolizes power, courage, as well as strong-willed. Of course, these characteristics were added much later once animals were incorporated as relatable representatives of humanistic qualities for each of the 12 zodiac signs.

A painting of a tiger reclining. Artwork of Ohara Kosen.

Let’s break down technical traits of this year’s zodiac sign. The tiger sign is identified by the character “寅”, which is pronounced as “tora”. Normally, the kanji for the actual animal is “虎”, which also uses the same pronunciation. Although possessing the same animal name, the “寅” character’s root meaning points to “sprouting of seeds”. This is significant as it’s the precursor to the seasonal transition from Winter to Spring.

Along with the 12 Zodiacs, there is the “10 Heavenly Stems” (十干/Jikkan in Japanese), which traditionally associates with each year’s reading. The character that represents this category is “壬”, with the pronunciation being “mizunoe”, and means “light-water”. This is because the 10 Heavenly Stems is a product of Inyō Gogyōsetsu (陰陽五行説), which is the combination of philosophical beliefs pertaining to ying-yang (light and dark) and the 5 Movements/Elements (earth, water, fire, wood, metal).

There are essentially 5 different tiger years within the 60-year Zodiac cycle, with each one representing a different element. For this year, we get both tiger and mizunoe together as “壬寅”, which is pronounced either as “jin-in” or “mizunoe tora”. Thus, the complete way of reading 2022 would be as “year of the water-tiger”.

EVERYDAY USAGE

The Zodiac signs have continued to have an impactful influence in Japan’s society of old. Becoming a staple within the culture, people were educated to rely on these signs for telling time, determining direction, and so on. Below are the different roles of the tiger sign in everyday application, along with its traits for this year.

  • Time = 3 am – 5 am
  • Direction = East-Northeast (abit past 30 degrees)
  • Month = 1st (old calendar); 2nd (modern calendar)
  • Energy = Light / positive (yang)
  • 5 Elements = water

Although archaic for today’s standards, it is still possible to utilize the tiger sign, as well as the other zodiac signs, for calculating time, directions, and so forth. There is a systematic process, which is covered in one of my translation projects entitled, “Many Ways of Utilizing the Zodiac Signs“. This can be found in the Translations section of this site, in the menu above.

2022 PREDICTIONS

As mentioned earlier, the character used to represent the tiger sign possesses the meaning of a seed sprouting. This imagery represents growth & vitality, as well as new beginnings. In essence, 2022 is read as a year for everyone to not only become revitalized, but to start a new endeavor. Realistically, this tends to be a general goal for every year, especially in the West. What the tiger sign emphasizes is an increased success rate on an auspicious level, especially for life-changing, ground-breaking pursuits.

Those born particularly in the water-tiger year are said to have particular traits that makes it easier for them to succeed. This includes having a strong intention to succeed, passionate and able to take on any challenges, and an eagerness to learn. While designated as the personality of those born under this sign, keep in mind this can benefit all individuals universally, as those of different signs can mimic this in order to reap the rewards this year can offer.

Interestingly, as much as an advantage those born under this tiger sign has, there are also significant disadvantages they have to especially be cautious about regarding overdoing things. Then there are those other fortune factors to be concerned about, such as wearable color clothing, lucky numbers, favorable directions, and so on…at least, for those individuals who actually follow this type of auspicious practice.

CULTURAL IMAGE

Outside of the Chinese Zodiac calendar, the image of the tiger has cemented itself into Japan’s culture, despite being a country that originally was not a habitat for such animals. Gaining knowledge about this large, wild cat from sources such as artworks, literature, and folklore from China & Korea centuries ago, Japanese society has incorporated the concept of them representing strength, bravery, as well as something having high value. Thus, it’s not unusual for the tiger image to be used as a form of expression for one’s worth, or to distinguish objects with this animal association to instill an everlasting impression.

Artwork entitled, “Satō Masakiyo toragari no zu” (Satō Masakiyo on a Tiger Hunt). Artist is Utagawa Kuniteru. One of many artwork pieces that follow a popular theme regarding warriors defeating a tiger, usually as a feat to display their prowess.

Let’s look into the historical use of the word tora (tiger) as a label. Since as far back as medieval Japan, it wasn’t unusual for individuals to include this word in their name or given title, especially for warriors or those in the entertainment field.

  • Takeda Shingen (武田信玄) = the renown warlord of Kai province was nicknamed “Tiger of Kai” (甲斐の虎, Kai no Tora), for he was a cunning & formidable competitor in the race to dominate Japan during the 1500s.
  • Akiyama Torashige (秋山虎繁) = a strong warrior & trusted retainer of the Takeda clan that controlled Kai province.
  • Hara Toramasa (原虎胤) = another warrior of the Takeda clan that was an ashigaru taishō (足軽大将, infantry commander).
  • Ii Naotora (井伊直虎) = a female territorial lord during the mid 1500s, as noted in the chronicles of the Ii family.
  • Utagawa Yoshitora (歌川義虎) = an accomplished ukiyo-e artist during the late Edo period to early Meiji period.
  • Nakamura Toranosuke (中村 虎之介) = a young kabuki performer/actor who hails down a family line that specialized in kabuki theater.

In a sense, the inclusion of tora (tiger) in each of these individual’s names or as a label can be taken as an indication of their capacity for success.

Next, is how value is placed on tangible things. For example, within the different areas of artistic practices and performances of old such as bujutsu (武術, martial arts) and chadō (茶道, way of the tea ceremony), documents that contain secret & high-level knowledge exclusive to those worthy were often called “tora no maki” (虎の巻), which literally can be translated as “tiger scroll”. This is still done today, as this label is placed on workbooks & study guides that contain important tips and strategies to help students pass exams, or excel in various fields of interest, such as medical or tech. There is also the term “tora no ko” (虎の子), which usually indicates things of extreme value, such as money. With the term meaning “tiger’s cub”, one can get the idea of how protective a mother tiger is when it comes down to ensuring safety for her own cubs. This is the type of feeling that must be projected for things that are of the status to be labeled “tora no ko”.

Painting entitled, “Fūryū Jūnishi Tora (Appreciation of the 12 Zodiac Animals: Tiger). Artist is Isoda Koryusai. While no official description could be found, this artwork displays an adult tiger with a tiger cub on its back, possibly rescuing it from the strong water turrent.

There are also some interesting old sayings that use the tiger image in an expressive fashion. Below are some examples, from dangerous situations to challenging the road to success:

  • Kogō (虎口) = the tiger’s den
    MEANING = a dangerous place to either avoid or escape from.
  • Koketsu ni irazunba koji wo ezu (虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず) = you can’t steal the cub if you don’t enter the tiger’s den
    MEANING = have to take risks if you want to succeed big.
  • Tora no o wo fumu (虎の尾を踏む) = stepping on the tiger’s tail
    MEANING = beware of stirring trouble, or getting caught in a bad predicament.
  • Tora ni tsubasa (虎に翼) = a tiger with wings
    MEANING = giving someone who is already powerful a level up boost.
  • Neko wa tora no kokoro wo shirazu (猫は虎の心を知らず) = Although similar, a cat doesn’t possess the mind of a tiger
    MEANING = an average Joe cannot understand the mind of a successful person.

CONCLUSION

While our world has faced an amount of setbacks caused by the pandemic, we are gearing to move forward with our lives in hopes to overcome. Let’s hope that this year everyone can make strides towards this, and be successful in our goals, whether it be in helping our communities, starting a new business, or just getting back on our feet. Don’t forget to use the image of the tiger to be inspired to do big!