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According to the Chinese Zodiac, Tiger takes the third place among the 12 animals.
根据中国的生肖，虎在十二生肖中位居第三。
Long long ago, the Tiger was not a Zodiac sign, but the lion was.
很久很久以前，狮子是十二生肖之一，而不是老虎。
However, the lion was very savage and notorious.
但是，狮子非常凶残，名声不好。
The Jade Emperor in charge of the Chinese Zodiac wanted to change the lion to another animal.
主管封属相的玉皇大帝想把狮子除名，补进另一种动物。
At that time, the Jade Emperor thought of the tiger guard in front of the Heavenly Palace.
这时，玉帝想到殿前的虎卫士。
The tiger was a common animal before.
虎卫士从前也只是地上的一种很普通的动物。
One day, it found Master Cat and learned the great kung fu from the Master.
有一天，它发现了猫师傅，开始向猫师傅拜师学艺。
Then, the tiger became a warrior.
后来，老虎成为了山林中的勇士。
Any animal that challenged it was either killed or injured.
凡是和它较量的，非死即伤。
Since then, the tiger has dominated the mountain forest.
从此，老虎雄霸山林。
After hearing its braveness and fierceness, the Jade Emperor decreed the tiger to go to Heaven and asked it to fight with his guard.
后来，玉帝听说老虎勇猛无比，便下旨传老虎上天，并让它同玉帝的卫士较量。
The tiger won and became the new guardian.
老虎赢得了胜利。从此，老虎便成了天宫殿前的新卫士。
But soon later, due to lack of control, the animals and birds on the ground acted wildly and caused a disaster to the human world.
谁知不久之后，地上的飞禽走兽见无人镇管， 开始胡作非为起来，给人间造成了灾难。
It has attracted the Land God's attention, and he reported it immediately to the Jade Emperor.
这事惊动了土地神，土地神连忙上报天庭，请玉帝派统天神镇住百兽。
The Jade Emperor ordered the Tiger to overpower the animals.
玉帝派老虎下凡镇压动物们。
The Tiger nodded and asked for credit for each victory.
老虎点头答应，并要求每胜一次，便给它记一功。
For peace, the Jade Emperor accept its request.
玉帝只求人间安宁，便答应了老虎的要求。
After down to the Earth, the tiger learned that lion, bear, and horse were the three most powerful animals.
来了凡间，老虎了解到狮子、熊、马是当时最厉害的三种动物。
So it challenged them and finally beat them with its bravery and superior martial arts.
它特意向这三种动物挑战。凭着老虎的勇猛和高超的武艺接连击败了他们。
Then, the other animals fled.
其他恶兽闻风而逃。
The people were so happy, and they thanked the tiger for its great successes.
人间欢声动地，感谢老虎为人世间立了功。
When back to Heaven, the Jade Emperor carved three horizontal lines on the forehead of Tiger for its three victories.
回到天上，玉帝因老虎连胜三兽，便在它的前额刻下了三条横线。
Later, the mortal world was disturbed by a turtle monster in the East Sea, with its shrimp soldiers and crab generals.
后来，人间又受到东海龟怪的骚扰，大地一片汪洋。虾兵蟹将作恶人间。
The tiger came to the ground again and defeated the turtle monster.
老虎又来到凡间，打败了龟怪。
The Jade Emperor added a vertical line on its forehead.
玉帝又给老虎记一大功，在额头的三横之中又添了一竖。
Therefore, an eye-catching Chinese character 王 which means 'king' appeared.
就这样，一个醒目的“王”字出现在老虎前额。
The tiger became the king of all beasts, controlling all the animals.
老虎成为百兽之王，控制着所有的动物。
After that, the Jade Emperor replaced the lion with the tiger on the list of the Chinese Zodiac.
之后，玉皇大帝在十二生肖榜上去掉了狮子，补进了兽王虎。
Since then, the Tiger became a zodiac sign while the lion was expelled to the far south.
从此，虎成为了十二生肖之一，狮子则被贬到遥远的南方去了。
The Tiger came down to the mortal world from the Heavenly Palace and guarded the peace forever.
当然，老虎也从天界下凡，永保下界安宁。
In Chinese culture, tigers have been regarded as a symbol of strength, braveness, and the expulsion of evil since ancient times.
在中国文化中，老虎自古就被视为力量、勇敢和驱邪的象征。
People believe that tigers are the protectors of children.
人们认为老虎是儿童的保护神。
Therefore, during the Chinese New Year, kids in many regions would wear a tiger hat and tiger head shoes for good luck.
因此，在过年期间，很多地方的孩子们都喜欢戴虎头帽、穿虎头鞋，图个趋吉避邪，吉祥平安。
In some places, Chinese people have been using tigers to ward off bad luck, like the door-god picture and hanging pictures.
在一些地区，中国人一直用老虎来辟邪，比如门神和挂画。
