Do you see those gentle giants standing before us? This is the Elephant Couple Sculpture. Elephants hold a special place in Thailand’s heart. They are more than just animals here. They are symbols woven into the very fabric of Thai culture.
For centuries, elephants have marched through Thailand’s art, culture, legends and history. You will see this national symbol depicted everywhere. They appear in sculptures and paintings. They are on textiles and wall hangings. Even Chang beer features two elephants in its logo. “Chang” is simply the Thai word for elephant.
Elephants are admired for their strength and intelligence. They were once used in warfare. They hauled logs and farm produce. A white elephant even graced Thailand’s national flag from 1855 to 1916. Today, ships still fly a white elephant on the Naval Ensign of Thailand flag.
Historically, white elephants symbolized the king’s power. The more elephants a king owned, the more prosperous his kingdom seemed. The term “white elephant” itself originated in Thailand. These rare creatures were considered sacred. If a king was displeased with a courtier, he might gift them a white elephant. These animals could not work or be given away. Caring for them was incredibly expensive. Such a gift often meant financial ruin. The phrase became synonymous with something useless.
Stories say that a white elephant chose the site for Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in the 14th century. This is one of Thailand’s major Buddhist temples. The elephant was released into the hills. It climbed, trumpeted thrice, circled counterclockwise, and knelt. The King then ordered the temple built on that very spot.
Elephants appear in temples and museums throughout Thailand. The Temple of Dawn features statues of Erawan. Erawan is the three-headed elephant that serves as the vehicle of Indra. Indra is the Hindu god of thunder and rain. The Erawan Museum is also home to a massive three-headed elephant sculpture. It stands about 150 feet tall.
Elephants are ubiquitous in contemporary Thai art, design and fashion. You can find elephant designs on silk pillows and clothing. Jim Thompson, a famous Thai silk shop, sells many such items. Thompson revived the Thai silk industry. He even received the Order of the White Elephant award.
In 2015, the Princess of Thailand displayed 999 elephant sculptures to raise awareness. This was to support the dwindling wild elephant population and honor the King’s conservation efforts. At the Erawan Shrine, people offer tiny wooden elephants. They pray for good fortune.
Bangkok even boasts the Elephant Building. This 335-foot-tall structure looks like a cubist elephant. Arun Chaisaree, a real estate mogul and elephant art collector, collaborated with architect Ong-ard Satrabhandhu on the building.
You will find murals of Thai Kings riding elephants into battle at many temples. Elephants are known for their memory. In Thailand, they will never be forgotten. The Elephant Couple Sculpture that we are standing in front of today is a great example of this.