ExclusiveTraditional Chinese Tales: Why Didn't the Tiger Eat Him?

A story circulates in China about a man known as Brother Li. He lived a life of extreme poverty and hardship, often having to travel to find work to support his family. One day, he lost his way in the mountains. It was about to get dark and Brother Li didn't know which way to go. So he sat under a tree leaning against his trunk, hoping to find his way again at daybreak. Suddenly, a person emerged from the woods, followed closely by three or four others. These people had ferocious appearances and were unusually tall, unlike ordinary people. Brother Li, having grown up in the countryside and heard stories from his elders, knew these people were either mountain gods or demons. Realizing he could no longer hide, he bowed deeply to them and explained his plight while weeping. Unexpectedly, the leader said sympathetically, Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you. I am the divine tiger in charge of tigers. Today, I'm here to distribute food to the tigers. After the tigers eat people, you can collect their clothes and then you can support yourself. The divine tiger then led Brother Li to a hiding place and told him to watch. The divine tiger immediately roared loudly and soon many tigers leaped out of the bushes and gathered in a spacious area. Brother Li saw the divine tiger waving his hands to command the tigers. However, the divine tiger's voice was peculiar and unintelligible. After hearing the divine tiger's words, the tigers immediately dispersed. Only one tiger remained, crouching in the grass. After a while, a man carrying a load walked through the woods. The tiger pounced on the man about to eat him, but for some reason, it suddenly retreated. A little while later, a woman came along. The tiger leaped out again, this time seemingly confident, pouncing directly on the woman and devouring her in an instant. At this moment, the divine tiger emerged, picked up the woman's clothes, and found a few tails of silver inside. The tiger took them out and gave them to Brother Li, then said the following words, which made Brother Li understand why tigers differentiate between humans when they eat them. The divine tiger said, Tigers don't eat humans, only beasts. Those who are eaten are beasts among humans. Generally, those who haven't lost their conscience still have a spiritual aura above their heads, and tigers will avoid them. Those who have lost all conscience have their spiritual aura completely gone, and then they are no different from beasts, so tigers will catch and eat them without hesitation. The man we just saw, though fierce and inhuman, used what he stole to help his sister-in-law and orphaned nephew, keeping them from cold and hunger. Therefore, his spiritual aura was as small as a bullet, and the tiger didn't see it clearly at first, but when it pounced, it finally saw that little bit of spiritual light and dared not eat him anymore. The woman who came later, after abandoning her husband and eloping with another man, abused her new husband's children from his previous marriage, beating them mercilessly. She also stole her new husband's money, intending to give it to her daughter from her previous marriage. Those were the silver coins she was carrying in her bosom. Because of these sins, her spiritual aura disappeared, and the tiger no longer saw her as human, so it ate her. You met me today because you treated your stepmother kindly, and the aura above your head is over a foot high, so I sent the tiger to help you. It's not because you bowed to me and begged me. Do good deeds, and you will be blessed in the future. After speaking, the divine tiger pointed in the direction for him to return. Brother Li walked for a day and a night before finally arriving home. Old Mrs. Zhang's father and brother Li were relatives, so he got to hear about these things. At the time, the wife of old Mrs. Zhang's servants was also present. She usually abused her seven-year-old orphaned nephew, but after hearing old Mrs. Zhang's words, her bad behavior greatly subsided.