A Study On The Meaning Of Elephant Culture In The Sui And Tang Dynasties

Elephant is the largest mammal on the land,and in ancient china especially in Sui and Tang dynasties,elephant was of great symbolic significance in the political,economic,cultural and military affairs.With the development of Sui and Tang dynasties,elephant culture had flourished and became a part of tang dynasty culture.Elephant had some connections with politics,economy,military and other aspects of sui and tang dynasties.Elephants from foreign country had became tang on the political and economic.And Ivory had became a symbol of wealth.The handicraft based on ivory is booming.Some countries also had set an elephant army to fight.Elephant had connection with Religion,literature,art and auspicious.With the development of Buddhism,Elephants had appeared in Buddhist books,mural and sculpture.People can also see elephants in Tang dynasty literary works.In terms of artistic expression,elephants,as a urge animal,can perform music and dance in the court.Meanwhile,luxury goods made of ivory and articles for daily use in the shape of elephants,as well as paintings based on elephants,often appear in the frescoes of implements and tombs in the form of images and ornamentation.The economic and cultural exchanges in the sui and tang dynasties were also closely related.Elephants played a dual role in tribute and transportation.Tribute,as a diplomatic means,has both political significance and economic behavior.In the civil society,elephants are used for food and medical treatment in the southern elephant producing area.The charming image and divinity endowed by religion gradually form a cultural identity of elephants among the people.In this case,elephants also become a kind of auspicious beast in people’s hearts and are loved by people.