The Study of Thai Elephant Culture Based on the “Elephant Metaphors” in Thai Idioms

ABSTRACT The elephant, as a national treasure of Thailand, is a sacred symbol of the Thai people. Elephants play a very important role in Thai people’s life; and it, as a culture, has penetrated into all aspects of Thai society. Thai people take the “elephant” as a source to construct a huge system of “Elephant Metaphors” with their own intelligence and wisdom. Through this huge system of “Elephant Metaphors,” people can clearly know about Thai “Elephant Culture.” The “Elephant Culture” represents the crystallization of Thai people’s adaptability and result of the adaption to the particular environment of the tropical region of Indo-China Peninsula; it is an important integral part of the overall Thai culture; and it is also a Faith Culture, which has its own system. Thai “Elephant Culture,” as a symbol of the Thai people as well as Thailand, has the following characteristics: a symbol of the Thai ethnic group, a symbol of power and honor, a symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, a symbol of strength, as well as a modest symbol of negativity and evil.