The Cloth Tiger is a traditional Chinese toy with a long history. Being the king of animals, the Tiger is believed to have the ability to ward off evil spirits therefore protecting our family and homestead. In the old times, new born babies caught illness easily, and it was believed to be caused by the presence of evil spirits. So families would give their newborns hats, shoes or plush toys adorned with Tigers.
The cloth tiger plushie is very popular and you can find many different styles across China. However, despite the variations they all share common features such as big eyes and glaring teeth, as these characterise its intended ferocity. Another “trademark feature” is the striped marking upon their forehead which resembles the Chinese character for ‘King’. This cloth tiger not only has a cute face but also carries a kindhearted wish to protect your family.