ABSTRACT
This chapter presents analyses of metaphors concerning the profession of teachers in China and Iran. It gives significant examples of metaphors used frequently in public discourse: these construct the teaching profession from outside, with reference to China. The chapter provides a broad and significant perspective, since teachers in China work in the largest education system and represent the largest number of teachers in any country. It examines widespread examples of metaphors from research data concerning teachers in China and in Iran, as a potentially contrasting case, within professional contexts. The chapter analyzes metaphors as 'metaphor networks' and 'landscapes' or patterns of metaphors and entailments to give a picture of teachers from inside Chinese and Iranian cultures. It then shows some of the richness and complexity of professions and metaphors. Interestingly, Chinese student's metaphors for teachers often make comparisons with other professions or occupations.
