Ancient Chinese Art (Last slide)
There are many seasonal festivals in China. One of the most important is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month, the summer solstice. At this time of year the negative yin forces are supposed to be at their strongest. It is also important at this time to protect against the Five Poisons (wudu), represented by the snake, scorpion, centipede, spider, and toad. Sometimes a lizard replaces one of the other Poisons. Amulets with depictions of these creatures are worn to ward off their danger. The tiger is also able to combat the Five Poisons. In this sculpture, the tiger holds the toad down with his paw while the others are crawling on him. This piece serves as a charm against their influence.
Tiger and the Five Poisonous Animals, Jade. Length 10.8 cm. Late Ming/Early Qing dynasties, 17th century. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.