The elephant, along with the Rhinoceros, existed in China during the bronze age, but soon became extinct. The word elephant in Chinese is pronounced and written the same as the word for “sign” or “things to come” (xiang 象), so pairing elephants with other symbols creates a pun. In Chinese designs, the phrase taiping youxiang, “When there is peace, there are signs”, is represented by an elephant carrying a vase (ping 瓶) on its back as a pun for “peace” (taiping 太平). During the Qing Dynasty elephants carrying vases on their backs were featured in parades celebrating the Emperor’s birthday. Another popular motif shows a young boy riding on the back of an elephant, which announces the arrival of good fortune. In Chinese the phrase “elephant rider” sounds similar to “auspicious” or “fortunate”. In new year prints an elephant carrying a pot of evergreen plants represent spring and time for renewal.

The elephant in Chinese art is a symbol of great mental strength and wisdom. It is a very auspicious animal - white even more than grey. Because this animal features prominently in both Indian Buddhist and Hindu mythology and iconography, it is logical to find it playing a similar role in Chinese religious art. The elephant is a particularly sacred animal in Buddhist traditions and Buddha is sometimes depicted riding an elephant, which may reference the religion's origin as transported from India. The Buddhist bodhisattva Samantabhadra (Bodhisattva of Universal Virtue Pŭxián) is usually depicted seated on a white elephant.