In China, it was believed that five tigers of different colors guarded the cardinal directions and the center of the world. The Yellow Tiger, a symbol of the sun and the ruler, watched over the center of the world.
In the Fujian dialect, the pronunciation of the word 'tiger' (hu) is very similar to the word for 'happiness, well-being' (fu). Additionally, the tiger is believed to protect against evil and misfortune. Long life, financial security, physical health and peace of mind, high moral standards, and, finally, death from old age rather than sudden misfortune — this is how the concept of 'well-being' was understood in ancient China.