Page 117 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book

A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols 110
associated colours and directions are: wood, East, blue; fire, South, red; metal,
West, white; water, North, black; earth, Centre, yellow.
These five metamorphoses or states of being form a whole: in the ‘Hong fan’ chapter
of the ‘Book of Documents’ we read: ‘water is said to soak and descend; fire is said to
blaze and ascend; wood is said to curve or be straight; metal is said to obey and change;
earth is said to take seeds and give crops’ (tr. Karlgren).
Dozens of parallel series are correlated with the five elements: e.g. the four
seasons of the year (here, ‘earth’ is the odd man out, either receiving no season
specifically associated with it or, at most, a few days from each of the four seasons);
the five animals (hairy, feathered, scaly, armoured, naked); the five tastes (salty,
bitter, sour, sharp, sweet) etc., etc. As a whole, the system is bound up with Chinese
astronomy, astrology, geomancy, and also with a branch of ancient Chinese
medicine.
In ancient times, ceremonial garb varied according to the season of the year. Even the
administration of justice was not unaffected by the doctrine of the five elements: thus we
find that criminals could only be executed in autumn, the time of year when everything
dies. All human actions had to be in harmony with nature.

Elephant

xiang

In early times, elephants roamed all over China, even in the far North, and they were
often hunted by the upper classes. They were native to South China until quite recently.
From the 3rd century BC onwards, tame elephants are mentioned in texts, and in popular
tales the hero often rides on an elephant. Pictures showing a man ploughing with an
elephant refer to the mythical Emperor Shun: he was the exemplar of perfect filial piety

( xiao) and lived exactly 100 years, as befitted such a paragon.
The legend of the hunter who slays a monster which kills elephants, and is thereupon
taken by an elephant to a place where he finds more than 300 ivory tusks, is not later than
the 10th century. We find a parallel in Sindbad’s seventh journey in the Thousand and
One Nights.
The elephant is regarded as an animal with very high moral standards.
Sexual intercourse between elephants is said to take place only in water, as the elephant –
like humans – appreciates privacy. It feels gratitude: as we have seen, someone who helps
it may be rewarded with ivory. In addition, it symbolises strength and astuteness, and is
often shown in this connection along with the lion, the leopard and the tiger.
Riding on an elephant (qi-xiang) symbolises happiness (ji-xiang): the rider is usually a
child carrying a sceptre (ru-yi). The elephant cover is decorated with various motifs
symbolising happiness and good fortune – e.g. a rock rising up out of the sea, while high
above a pearl floats in the clouds. A deity on an elephant is Puxiau (Sanskrit:
Samantabhadra).