National Treasure – Tiger Tally

In Chinese culture, the tiger is the King of the wild beasts. The tiger tally, a tiger-shaped tally, was used as imperial authorization for troop movement in ancient China. With a text inscribed on its back, it always consists of two parts. The right part retained in the central government while the left part was issued to the local official or the garrison commander.

When someone wanted to dispatch the troops from a certain region, he had to show the right part of the tiger tally and accepted the authorization. Only when the two parts could match each other, he could dispatch the troops.

Here is a collection of these rare treasures.

Tiger tally from the Spring and Autumn period (770–221 BC)

Preserved in Xi’an City Institute of Protection of Cultural Relics
Address：No.68, West Youyi West Road, Xi’an
Tel：（029）85251916

Tiger tally from the period ruled by King Qin Huiwen (337-325 BC)

Preserved in Shaanxi History Museum
Address:91 East XiaoZhai Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province
Tel: 029-85266247
web:http://www.sxhm.com

Tiger tally from the Qin dynasty (221–207 BC)

Preserved in National Museum of China
Address: 16, East Chang’an Street, Dongcheng district, Beijing
Tel: 010-65128901
web: http://www.chnmuseum.cn

Tiger tally from the Western Han Dynasty (207 BC – 25 AD)

Preserved in Xianyang Museum
Address: in the middle section of Zhongshan Road, Xianyang City
Tel:029-33213015