"Elephant" netsuke

Netsuke Elephant is a symbol of strength, wisdom and prudence. He is also one of the seven Treasures of Buddhism, and what is sometimes called the Chia yeh. This animal is sacred to Buddhists and is sometimes depicted presenting flowers to the Buddha.

They say that the Buddha once made one of their exploits, tossing the elephant over the wall. Often the Buddha is depicted riding an elephant. According to one legend, the Buddha entered the right side of his mother Maya in the form of a white elephant. According to Hindu mythology the world rests on the back of an elephant standing on the tortoise shell.

The image of the White Elephant was adopted by the Siamese as a national emblem. According to their beliefs, this animal mahogany is an incarnation of the future Buddha. Giant stone monoliths in the farm of elephants standing and kneeling, you can see on the Avenue of stone figures leading to the tombs of the emperors of the Ming dynasty near Beijing. Childless women believe that, putting a stone on the back of one of these stone animals, they can gain the ability to give birth to a son.