The ancestors of the Yi ethnic group belonged to the ancient Di and Qiang Tribe in the north of China. Surviving on stock raising, the shepherds (the ancestors) were endangered by wild animals such as tigers, leopards and wolves etc, all "wicked". It took a long time for them (the shepherds) to remold their attitudes from "being scared by tigers", "worshiping tigers", "getting close to tigers" to "taming tigers".

Shuangbai County, the hometown of "Tiger Culture" in China, is regarded as the "geographic center of Yunnan" and "a green pearl in Central Yunnan". The traditional dances there such as Laohusheng, Daluosheng and Xiaobaozisheng etc have been deemed heritage of the ancient exorcising ceremonies and the "living fossil" of the Tiger Culture.