虎年的來歷
虎在十二生肖中位居第三，在十三地支配屬“寅”，故壹天十二時辰中之＝“寅時”－－清晨三點至五點又稱“虎時”。
在遠古時候，屬相中有獅子，沒有老虎。由於獅子太兇殘，名聲不好，主管封屬相的玉皇大帝想把獅子除名，但是又必須補進壹位鎮管山林的動物。這時，玉帝想到殿前的虎衛士。
天宮的虎衛士從前也只是地上的壹種不出名的動物。它從貓師傅那裏學得抓、撲、咬、煎、沖、躍、折等十八般武藝後，成為山林中的勇士。凡是和它較量的，不死即傷。從此，老虎雄霸山林。後來，玉帝聽說老虎勇猛無比，便下旨傳老虎上天。老虎上天之後，同玉帝的衛士較量，贏得勝利。從此，老虎便成了天宮的殿前衛士。
誰知不久之後，地上的飛禽走獸見無人鎮管，開始胡作非為起來。給人間造成了災難，這事驚動了土地神，土地神連忙上報天庭，請玉帝派統天神鎮住百獸。玉帝便派老虎下凡，老虎要求每勝壹次，便給他記壹功。玉帝只求人間安寧，當然滿口答應老虎的要求。
來了凡間，老虎了解到獅子、熊、馬是當時最厲害的三種動物。它就專門向這三種動物挑戰。憑著老虎的勇猛和高超的武藝連接擊敗了獅子、熊、馬。其他惡獸聞風而逃，藏進了無人居住的森林荒野。人間歡聲動地，感謝老虎為人世間立了功。
回到天上，玉帝因老虎連勝三伏，便在它的前額刻下了三條橫線。後來，人間又受到東海龜怪的騷擾，大地壹片汪洋。蝦兵蟹將作惡人間，老虎又來到凡間，咬死了龜怪。玉帝壹高興，又給老虎記壹大功，在額頭的三橫之中又添了壹豎。於是壹個醒目的“王”字現在老虎前額。從此，老虎便為百獸之王，總管百獸。時至今天，虎額上也還可見到威風的“王”字。
在獅子的惡名傳來天宮後，玉帝便決定除去獅子的屬相頭銜，補進了獸王虎。從此，虎成為了屬相，獅子則被貶到遙遠的南方去了。當然，老虎也從玉帝的殿前衛士下凡間，永保下界安寧。今天也還有虎符、虎環、虎雕等除災免禍的鎮邪物。在農村，不少人家也喜歡給孩子戴虎頭帽、穿虎頭鞋。為個咐，這不是圖個趨吉避邪，吉祥平安。
淩晨3－5時（即“寅時”）。據古書載。這時候，老虎是最活躍、最兇猛、傷人最多，因為寅時同虎搭配。
英文：
Origin of the Tiger
Tiger in the Chinese zodiac ranks third in the 13 to control are "Yin", so a day within a 12 hour = "yin shi" - three in the morning to a five-point also known as "Tiger, when."
In ancient times the sign of the Zodiac there are lions, not tigers. As the lion was too cruel, reputation is not good, in charge of the Jade Emperor wanted to seal Zodiac lion removed, but it must also make up into a mountain town of tube animals. At this time, the Jade Emperor thought the tiger front of palace guards.
Temple of the Tiger defender is only on the ground past a non-famous animal. It is learned from the master cat was captured, flutter, biting, fried, red, jump, off, etc. After the 18 martial arts to become warriors of the mountain forests. Any and its battle, the undead or damaged. Since then, the Tigers dominated the forest. Later, the Jade Emperor heard that extremely fierce tiger, they decreed that a tiger pass to heaven. Tiger Heaven, the guardian of battle with the Jade Emperor and win them. Since then, the Tiger Temple in the front of the hall became guardian.
Who would have thought long after, on the ground of the birds and beasts, see no town, pipe, began to perpetrate them. To the human caused disaster, this issue has alarmed the land gods, the land God quickly reported to heaven, please send the Jade Emperor unified god quells beasts. The Jade Emperor Tiger has sent down to earth, tigers require each win one, they give him credit for. The Jade Emperor Zhi Qiu earth peace, of course, Tiger Mankoudaying requirements.
To the earthly, tigers learned lion, bear, horse was the most powerful of the three kinds of animals. It specifically to the challenges of these three animals. With Tiger's bravery and superb martial arts to connect defeated lions, bears, horses. Fled to hear of the other Wu Shou, possession into the uninhabited forest wilderness. Cheers human movement, the appreciation for the earth a piece of legislation tiger gong.
To return to heaven, the Jade Emperor Tiger straight dog day because they are carved on its forehead, three horizontal line. Later, the earth has been harassment of the East sea turtles strange earth an ocean. So many small evil human, the tiger went to the mortal, bitten to death by a turtle strange. The Jade Emperor a happy, and gave the tiger in mind a great merit, in the forehead, among the three they have a cross-pricked. Thus an eye-catching "King" character is now a tiger forehead. Since then, Tiger will be for the King of Beasts, mains beasts. Today, the tiger, also you can see the amount of power and prestige of the "King" is used.
The lion's notoriety came in the Temple, the Jade Emperor decided to remove the lion's Zodiac titles, added into the Beastmaster tiger. Since then, the tiger became a sign of the Zodiac, the lion was banished to the distant south go. Of course, the tiger front of palace guards from the Jade Emperor, the next mortal, eternal peace lower bounds. Today, there are still Fifteen Strings of Coins, tiger ring, tiger carving, etc. In addition to disaster Mianhuo town evil things. In rural areas, many people also like the children Daihu headgear, wearing tiger-head shoes. As a Fu, this is not a trend Kyrgyzstan evil plan, auspicious peace.
At 3-5 hours (the "yin shi"). According to ancient books contain. At this time, the tiger is the most active and violent, wounding up to, because yin shi match with the Tigers.