虎年说虎，在古人眼里，动物除了有生物属性之外还带着丰富、深刻的象征意义。中国传统文化中，有十二种与人类生活息息相关的动物，它们倍受青睐而被赋予了特殊的象征意义——用来代表地支（Earthly Branch）。由于精神内涵的赋予，这些动物变为神兽，同中国人的生活有了千丝万缕的联系。其中的老虎，为万兽之王，凶猛强悍而令人生畏，因此成为威严和权势的象征。有些时候，它作为一种图腾，出现在军事、政治、宗教和社会活动当中。老虎还因其威力与神圣而被尊奉为守护神。作为儿童日常生活中的守护神，老虎的形象变得十分和善，不再代表权力。在中国人看来，虎的神气与正人君子的美德相似——内柔外刚。虎年出生的人，往往会被认为勇敢而强势。
【参考译文】
Let’s talk about tigers in the year of the Tiger. In the eyes of the ancients, animals have not only biological features but also rich and profound symbolic meanings. There were 12 types of animals which were closely linked with human’s existence in traditional Chinese culture. These animals were extremely popular and were endowed with special symbolic significance, which was used for representing Earthly Branch. Having been given the spiritual connotation, these animals became mythical creatures and bore sets of associations with the life of Chinese people. Among all those animals, the tiger, being fierce and daunting, is the king of them, so it becomes a symbol of majesty and power. In some cases, it also appears as a totem in military, political, religious and social activities. Tiger is also regarded as patron saint for its power and holiness. As the patron saint in children’s life, tiger represents power no more and its image becomes very genial. For Chinese people, tiger’s spirit resembles gentleman’s virtue, which is soft inside despite their hard shell. People born in the year of the Tiger are often considered brave and mighty.
