Elephant
Overview
Associated with the Buddhist tradition's white elephant, and in Chinese folk usage with the homophone linking it to 'auspicious appearance' and to the supporting pillar.
Meaning
The elephant carries the reading of stability and of bearing weight — strength that is steady rather than violent.
Traditional Interpretation
Sources treat the elephant as one of the animals that supports the world in the traditional cosmology, and an elephant carrying a vase is a fixed composition meaning peace.
Related Concepts
FAQ
What does elephant symbolize in Chinese tradition?
The elephant carries the reading of stability and of bearing weight — strength that is steady rather than violent. Associated with the Buddhist tradition's white elephant, and in Chinese folk usage with the homophone linking it to 'auspicious appearance' and to the supporting pillar.
Where does the elephant appear in Chinese art and custom?
Its use is documented across several registers at once. The elephant carries the reading of stability and of bearing weight — strength that is steady rather than violent. The elephant-with-vase composition is a pun on 'peaceful times', and the vase is what makes the reading specific rather than general.
How is elephant read in Chinese tradition?
Sources treat the elephant as one of the animals that supports the world in the traditional cosmology, and an elephant carrying a vase is a fixed composition meaning peace. It is grouped under Metal (金) in the five-element system.
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