Appreciation of China's classic doctor's amulet "Tiger Support"

Witty words; Punchline

Tiger holder, also known as "string bell", "tiger title" and "informing the king", is an object held by ancient doctors, similar to a bronze ring, and is also a prop for Dr. Zhong to attract customers in rural cities.

Classical explanation

In ancient times, Chinese medicine practitioners had to walk all day to practice medicine and sell medicines, but instead of shouting "see a doctor and treat a disease" to avoid bringing bad luck to people, they used hand-cranked tiger supports similar to copper rings. The tiger bracket is round in appearance, decorated with gossip from top to bottom, which contains the meaning of exorcising evil spirits and seeking benefits for good. There is a small opening on the outside of the tiger bracket and two iron bullets in the middle. When in use, the palm and arm swing back and forth, so that the middle projectile collides back and forth in the tiger support and makes a crisp sound.

According to legend, Sun Simiao once went into the mountains to see a doctor and was blocked by a tiger. He found that the tiger didn't mean to attack him, just crawling on the ground, his mouth wide open, showing a pleading look, as if asking for help. Sun Simiao approached the tiger carefully and observed it carefully. He saw a white thing across the tiger's throat. It turned out to be a huge animal bone. Sun Simiao wanted to take out the animal bones for the tiger to eat, but he was afraid that the tiger would bite off his arm. At this time, he remembered that there was a copper ring on the medicine burden, so he took it and put it in the tiger's mouth to support the tiger's jaws. Then he put his hand into the copper ring, took out the animal bones, and put medicine on the tiger's wound. The tiger wagged its tail, nodded to him as if thanking him, and then left.

After the news came out, practitioners in the Jianghu followed Sun Simiao's example, and bronze rings became a necessity in medical practice. Later, the bronze ring was gradually transformed into a hand horn, which can be used as a sign of practicing medicine, indicating that he is a disciple of the king of medicine who can cure dragons and tigers; Secondly, because Sun Simiao saved the tiger with a bronze ring and was not eaten, the yogi also used it as an amulet.