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What is a Paper Tiger?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

The term paper tiger is thought to have been introduced to the English language in the 1950s. It is a translation from the Chinese term zhi laohu, which was in use long before the 50s. Chairman Mao Zedong, leader of the Chinese government and communist party from 1949-1976, described the imperialistic actions of certain nations, and most specifically the US as a paper tiger. The paper tiger is something that looks threatening, but in actuality is merely made of paper; thus it can be destroyed or combated.

Phrases in English that predate the term include storm in a teacup, and the Shakespeare quote from Macbeth, “full of sound and fury; signifying nothing.” These aren’t specifically applied to imperialism. However, they do appear to suggest that some molehills appear as mountains, and are not as daunting as might be supposed.

The term "paper tiger" is thought to have originated in China.
The term "paper tiger" is thought to have originated in China.

Imperialism of the type Chairman Mao referred to meant two things, first, the attitude and attempt by larger, stronger nations to establish political domination over smaller nations, and also an attitude of larger, stronger nations that their way of life was better, and their governance was superior to smaller nations. By calling the US a paper tiger, Chairman Mao was establishing a Chinese propagandist philosophy that would dominate China for many years to come, and to a certain degree still exists.

The term "paper tiger" was famously used by Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong to describe the imperialist actions of the US.
The term "paper tiger" was famously used by Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong to describe the imperialist actions of the US.

It’s important to understand specifically what Chairman Mao meant when he used the term, since this is often glossed over and not given fullest definition. Paper tiger frequently referred to not only the policies of the US but the beliefs about imperialist policies (if they can be called such) of the US by its citizens and the rest of the world. Chairman Mao stated that the US runs up debts attempting to combat communism, and that its imperialistic policies are despised by other countries, and its own citizens. Because the policy of “oppression” as Mao saw it, was so disliked, it would collapse upon itself. This is what makes the tiger paper.

Chairman Mao did not claim that the paper tiger of the US was without any power, but merely that that power was transient and would be: “unable to withstand the wind and the rain.” Furthermore, even though the tiger was paper, it had to be fought, and Mao suggested all countries “oppressed” by US imperialism would probably continue to have to keep fighting and despising this tendency for the US to regard itself as somehow superior to other countries under different political organization.

Mao said strategically this tiger must be “despised,” but that, “Tactically, we must take it seriously.” This became a call, then, to all nations of communist persuasion to strengthen themselves and engage in battle with imperialism, standing strong in communist beliefs. This process would be time consuming, perhaps a battle existing until imperialism completely vanished, “battered by the wind and the rain.” Mao used the wind and rain as metaphor for the fight communist nations must put up to completely destroy the paper tiger.

In modern usage, the paper tiger can refer to anything that appears threatening but is really not so. We are back to Shakespeare’s idea of a thing being “full of sound and fury; signifying nothing.” The way the term is used now deviates from its purpose as used by Mao. It can apply to any large force that seems to pose a threat, or to the actual process of creating a threat where none exists in order to create fear and possibly influence people’s process of decision-making, or the political process.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent LanguageHumanities contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent LanguageHumanities contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Discussion Comments

croydon

@Iluviaporos - I actually never realized it was a political term. I've only ever heard it from that Beck song called "Paper Tiger" which talks about a paper tiger being torn apart by adult hands. So I always thought it was supposed to be a symbol of the magic of childhood that could be dismantled by adult logic or something like that.

lluviaporos

@clintflint - It's easy for us to say that with hindsight, but the point of that kind of propaganda was to inspire people who had no real idea of what the United States was like back then. When they talked about taming the paper tiger, they were imagining a country that was all talk and no power, because they had no way of knowing otherwise.

And people with experience of real tigers aren't going to be comforted by the idea of comparing a country with a real tiger. They would much rather compare it to a toy.

clintflint

It's a really good expression but I never realized it was supposed to originally refer to the United States. I guess it wouldn't really stick in that case, because it wasn't a particularly good way of describing them. The United States could never really be considered a storm in a teacup or a paper tiger. I think if anything, in the sense that Mao wanted to use, they are better describe as a real tiger, with power, but without will or direction. That's not how I see the States, or how most modern people would see it today, but that seems like the kind of metaphor Mao was aiming for.

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    • The term "paper tiger" is thought to have originated in China.
      By: Franck Thomasse
      The term "paper tiger" is thought to have originated in China.
    • The term "paper tiger" was famously used by Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong to describe the imperialist actions of the US.
      By: Stephane TOUGARD
      The term "paper tiger" was famously used by Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong to describe the imperialist actions of the US.