2010 Year of the Tiger

A darkish wood netsuke of a male tiger sitting on one haunch with its head turned looking back. The body covered with stripes and the tail snakes back up behind. The eyes are inlaid in translucent pale horn with inlaid black pupils, the canines are of inlaid ivory. Signed Toyomasa, very early 19th Century.

The Chinese calendar -which existed there already since around 2000 BC- was adopted by Japan from around the 6th century AD, together with Buddhism. As it is based on the Lunar movements, the year of the Tiger starts on February 14, 2010 and ends on February 2, 2011.

The Zodiac has an influence on the character of mankind. Each of the 12 β€˜animals’ has specific characteristics. Persons born in the year of the Tiger (tora) are said to be sensitive, stubborn, short-tempered, courageous, selfish and slightly mean. Yet Tigers are deep thinkers and are capable of great sympathy for those they are close to and love. Some Tigers were/are: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Queen Elizabeth II, Karl Marx, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Marylin Monroe, just to name a few.

During the last century, years of the Tiger were in 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986 and 1998. In each 60 year cycle, the 12 zodiac animals are repeated 5 times, representing 5 elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Of course it is not that simple; 60 is merely the most common denominator of 10 x 12, the ten being the 5 elements but in order to make it ten, the Japanese have adopted a big (elder) brother and small (younger) brother of each of the five stated elements. In all eastern languages, big brother and younger brother is one noun each, and not formed by a noun (brother) plus an adjective (younger or bigger [elder]) like in western languages.

As the third animal in the Eastern zodiac, the Tiger indicates the hours between 3 am and 5 am.

Best wishes to all for a splendid Year of the Tiger, 2010!

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The entire Bosshard clan wishes you a wonderful 2009/10 Holiday Season with lots of fun, happiness, good health and some great relaxation or even a vacation with friends and family, leading into a beautiful spring and great summer season, too.

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