Long ago in a small village in Taiwan, nestled at the foot of a misty mountain, there lived two young children with their mother. Their home was simple but filled with warmth, laughter, and the scent of rice porridge cooking over a small fire. The children were playful and curious, and though their mother worked hard each day to provide for them, she always reminded them never to open the door to strangers.
Beyond the village lay a dense forest where an ancient tiger spirit roamed. This tiger had lived for hundreds of years and learned to disguise itself as a human. Among the villagers, she was known in whispered warnings as Aunt Tiger, Hó͘-ko͘-pô in the local tongue, a creature who lured children when their parents were away.
One evening, as the sun dipped behind the mountains and the sky turned the color of amber, the children’s mother prepared to visit her sister in the next village. She lit the oil lamp and said, “My dear ones, I’ll be back by morning. Lock the door and do not let anyone in, no matter what they say.”
The children nodded obediently. “Yes, Mother. We’ll be good.”
When night fell, the forest began to hum with the sounds of insects and owls. The children ate their rice cakes and played quietly by the fire. Suddenly, they heard a soft knock at the door.
“Knock, knock.”
“My darlings,” came a rough voice. “It’s your auntie. Your mother sent me to keep you company.”
The older child, cautious and clever, whispered to the younger, “Our aunt doesn’t live nearby. That can’t be her.”
“Ask her a question,” said the little one.
The older sister called out, “Auntie, what did our mother cook for dinner before she left?”
There was a pause, and then the voice said, “Why, she made rice cakes with sweet beans, of course.”
The answer seemed right, but something about the tone sent a chill down the girl’s spine. She crept to the window and peered through the crack in the shutters. Under the moonlight, she saw not an old woman but a shadowed figure with glowing eyes and sharp ears hidden beneath a scarf.
Her heart pounded. “It’s Aunt Tiger,” she whispered.
The tiger spirit, impatient, knocked again. “Children, let me in. It’s cold outside.”
Thinking quickly, the older sister said, “Our mother told us not to open the door at night. But if you are truly our aunt, stretch out your hand so we can see you.”
A hairy claw reached through the small opening. The children gasped in fright and pulled back. “That’s not our aunt!” cried the younger one.
The tiger growled softly, realizing her disguise had failed. She padded away into the darkness, plotting her next move.
A short while later, she returned, disguising her paw with a strip of cloth and soft mud to look like human skin. Again she knocked. “Children, please, I am cold and hungry. Let me in just for the night.”
The older sister hesitated. Her little brother, feeling pity, tugged at her sleeve. “She sounds kind. Maybe she really is Auntie.”
The girl looked again through the crack. The hand now appeared human. Against her better judgment, and moved by her brother’s pleading, she unbolted the door.
The tiger slipped inside, wrapped in a shawl, pretending to shiver. “Ah, thank you, little ones,” she said with a wide grin. “Your mother told me to watch you until morning.”
The children prepared a mat for her near the fire. But as she sat, the older sister noticed her teeth glinting sharply in the lamplight. “Auntie,” she said timidly, “your teeth are so long.”
The tiger chuckled. “These old teeth are for chewing tough food, my dear.”
The night deepened, and soon the children began to nod off. When they awoke in the darkness, the room felt strange. The older sister reached over for her brother but his side of the mat was empty.
“Auntie?” she whispered.
From the shadows came a low rumbling sound. Then she saw it, the tiger crouched in the corner, gnawing on bones.
Terrified, the girl clamped her hands over her mouth to keep from screaming. Her brother was gone, and Aunt Tiger’s mouth was red with blood.
The tiger turned her gleaming eyes on the trembling girl. “Come here, child. It’s your turn.”
Thinking quickly, the girl forced a smile. “Auntie, before you eat me, shouldn’t you wash your mouth? It’s dirty with my brother’s blood. My mother always says we must be clean before eating.”
The tiger paused, puzzled. “Hmm. You’re right, clever child. Where shall I wash?”
“Outside,” said the girl, pointing. “There’s a bucket by the well. But be careful — it’s dark. I’ll light a lamp.”
As the tiger stepped out, the girl seized the chance. She ran to the door, bolted it shut, and hurried to the fire. Remembering her mother’s lessons, she set a large pot of water to boil.
The tiger roared outside, scratching at the door. “Let me in, little one! I’m finished washing!”
The girl steadied herself, tears in her eyes but courage in her heart. “Come through the roof, Auntie. The door is stuck.”
The tiger, fooled again, climbed onto the roof and began to crawl through the smoke hole. At that moment, the girl lifted the pot and poured the boiling water upward. There was a terrible shriek, and the tiger fell from the roof, vanishing into the forest.
When dawn broke, the mother returned to find her daughter safe but shaken. The girl told her everything, and the mother wept and held her tightly. From that day on, the villagers told their children: “Never open the door to strangers, no matter how sweet their voice may sound.”
And whenever the wind rustled through the bamboo at night, people said it was Aunt Tiger still wandering the mountains, licking her burns, searching for another chance.
Discover more East Asian Folktales from the lands of dragons, cherry blossoms, and mountain spirits
Moral Lesson
The story of Aunt Tiger reminds us that wisdom and courage can protect even the smallest and weakest among us. It warns against trusting appearances and teaches that bravery is not the absence of fear, but the strength to act wisely when danger comes.
Knowledge Check
-
Who were the main characters in the story?
The two children, their mother, and Aunt Tiger, the tiger spirit. -
What warning did the mother give before leaving?
She told her children never to open the door to anyone while she was away. -
How did the tiger try to deceive the children?
She disguised herself as their aunt and used a gentle voice to gain their trust. -
How did the older sister recognize the danger?
She saw the tiger’s claw through the window and noticed her sharp teeth. -
What clever trick saved the older sister’s life?
She convinced the tiger to climb through the roof and poured boiling water on her. -
What is the main lesson of this story?
To be cautious of strangers and to use courage and wit to overcome danger.
Source:
Adapted from Aunt Tiger (虎姑婆 / Hó͘-ko͘-pô), collected by Wang Shilang in Taiwan Folk Tales (臺灣民間故事), 1999, Taipei: Taiwan Folklore Press.
Cultural Origin: Taiwan (Hakka & Minnan folk tradition)
