| Aunt Tiger | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Other Names |
Auntie Tigress, Hǔ Gūpó, Hó͘-ko͘-pô |
|
First Appearance |
Taiwanese Folklore (16th Century) |
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Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
Aunt Tiger, also known as Auntie Tigress, is a fearsome figure from Taiwanese folklore often used as a cautionary tale to keep children obedient and safe at night. In most versions, she is a tiger spirit who descends from the mountains, disguising herself as an old woman or a kindly aunt to lure unsuspecting children. Her ultimate goal is to devour them—each child she consumes bringing her closer to becoming fully human.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Aunt Tiger from before January 1, 1931 are public domain in the US.
Notes[]
- This tale belongs to the Chinese folktale type “The Tiger Grandma” (Type 333C), part of a family of global stories where a predatory creature impersonates a trusted relative to prey on children—similar to Europe’s Little Red Riding Hood or The Wolf and the Seven Kids. Variants of the story appear across East Asia, featuring wolves, bears, or other beasts, all warning children not to trust strangers who exploit their parents’ absence.