Came across this quaint expression. It's the Korean version of "Long, long ago":
호랑이 담배 피던 시절 (Horang-i dambae pidun sijul.)
Translated, it means: A time when tigers smoked cigarettes. According to Cho Ah-mi, this proverb refers to a time gone by. It is used to express that is very outdated.
This led me to google for images featuring smoking tigers and whaddaya know - I found four!
Smoking Tiger No.1 - I love the stripes in the tiger here. This "Smoking Tiger” is by Suh Gong-im and it was completed in 1997. Look for the original in Lotte Gallery.
Smoking Tiger No. 2 - This fella looks a little ridiculous on account of that silly top hat. This tiger looks too preoccupied to have any chat with the
magpies.
"Jakhodo" is a genre of folk painting which features a tiger and one or two magpies. It was a custom for Koreans to hang such pictures on the walls of their homes at the beginning of the year. "The two animals were depicted together because it was believed tigers fend off evil while magpies invite good luck" and the pine trees in the background represent longevity.
Smoking Tiger No. 3 - Now is that a long pipe or an extra long toothpick? The rabbits in this pic as well as in Pic No 1 may be inspired by an old folks' tale about how three rabbits outwitted one hungry tiger by persuading him to spend his time smoking and fishing for food with his tail in a stream. The silly creature got trapped when his tail froze in the stream and so the rabbits enjoyed a season of roaming on the range free from worrying about being the tiger's next meal.
Smoking Tiger No 4 - Here's another one portrayed alongside rabbits AND magpies AND pine trees.
Finally, here's Smoking ( or rather Soon- to -Stop-Smoking ) Tiger No. 5! See
previous posting.
Here are three other proverbs provided by Cho Ah-mi:
호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다. (Horang-ido jemal hamyun onda.)
If you talk about the tiger, the tiger will appear.
Meaning: "Speak of the devil." This proverb is used to express an unexpected coincidence.
호랑이 굴에 가야 호랑이를 잡는다. (Horang-i gool-e kaja horang-ilul japneunda.)
If you want to catch a tiger, you have to go to the tiger’s cave.
Meaning: If you want achieve a goal, you have to go to the source, work hard and overcome difficulties.
호랑이에게 물려가도 정신만 차리면 산다. (Horang-ieke japhyudo jungsinman charimyun sanda.)
Even if you are caught by a tiger, you will survive if you keep your cool.
Meaning: Even when facing the most dangerous situation or difficulty, a person can survive if he keeps his composure and does not lose his cool.
This proverb teaches people to be courageous and not to despair even in the most desperate situations.
I still like the first proverb the most!
Source:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2914997
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29837411@N00/42282614/
http://ieas.berkeley.edu/cks/k12/lesplan1_pro.doc
http://onceuponatiger.blogspot.com/2009/09/story-number-one.html
