试论彝族虎文化

On the Tiger Culture of Yi People

彝族自古以来就是一个崇虎、畏虎、敬虎、祭虎的民族,彝族先民不仅以虎为象征,以虎为祖先,以虎为自称,而且认为在危难时刻会得虎神的庇佑。彝族的虎文化不仅历史悠久,而且内容丰富、形式多样,是彝族深厚古文化的遗存和积淀,也是彝族民族文化的重要载体和体现。

Since the ancient times, Yi people has been a nationality which worships, fears, and sacrifices tiger. The ancient Yi people not only regard the tiger as their symbol, ancestor and represent themselves to be tigers, but also think they will get the tiger＇ s blessing when they are in a crisis. The ancient Yi people also think of themselves as the offspring of the tiger, and they will become tigers after death. In the Yi people set- tlement, they named mountain, rivers or districts with tigers. Beyond that, they also think that everything comes from the tiger and the tiger can eliminate disasters and bring good luck for them. The Yi people ＇ s tiger culture not only has a long history, but also has rich contents and various formsl The tiger culture is not only the deep ancient culture heritage and the accumulation but also the important carrier and embodiment of the Yi national culture.