The Tibetan tiger motif is associated with buddhist efforts to tame the wildness of the ego-centric mind through ritual practices. When seated on these rugs they symbolized the lama's ability to control wild impulses of mans internal psyche.
Only those with high status owned tiger rugs. It is said the tiger skin brings luxury suitable for a king & keeps away bad spirits. Another function of the tiger rug is to act as a guardian and protector.
Tiger rugs are divided in three groups -Flayed tigers -Happy tigers: male & famale, yin and yang that face each other - Abstract tiger designs.
"Like many motifs found in hand knotted rugs the Tiger, also called the Tibetan Tiger or the Chinese Tiger, was originally representative and symbolic of the world around us. Specifically, when used as a meditation mat the tiger represents a taming of the wild within, though this meaning Is now generally replaced by another. As decorative element and accent they are awesome."- Rug Insider Editor, Michael Christie
