Elephants are not native to Korea, yet they have left an intriguing mark on its history and artistic traditions. From charming buncheong ceramics to the unusual arrival of Korea’s first recorded elephant in 1411, these magnificent creatures have captured the imagination of artists and historians alike. However, myths and misunderstandings have often shrouded their presence, especially in the context of Japan's perception of elephants from Korea.
The Misunderstood Elephants of Japan’s ‘Korean Circus’
A common misunderstanding, even today, is that Edo-period woodblock-prints and books depict elephants arriving in Tokugawa Japan with a so-called ‘Korean circus.’ This claim puzzled me, as I was aware of Korean embassies to Tokugawa Japan but had never encountered historical records of a Korean circus. Moreover, if such an embassy had brought an elephant, it would have been highly unusual: elephants were not native to Korea, so it wouldn't particularly have made sense to give them as diplomatic gifts.
After some research, I found that this myth likely originated from the Sannō Festival, where Japanese participants dressed as Koreans in a grand procession. The festival featured elaborate floats, some of which included elephant-shaped models. Over time, observers unfamiliar with the festival’s traditions conflated these representations with real elephants supposedly brought by real Koreans. However, a closer examination reveals that no actual elephants (or Koreans for that matter) were involved; just carefully crafted festival displays.
Buncheong Elephants: A Rare Artistic Motif
Buncheong ceramics, a distinctive form of Korean pottery popular during the early Joseon period, occasionally featured whimsical depictions of animals, including elephants. These representations were not based on direct observation but were instead influenced by stylised illustrations of ritual bronze vessels that incorporated elephant motifs. Such designs were part of a broader artistic tradition shaped by Chinese influences, where elephants often held symbolic or auspicious meanings. The presence of these motifs on buncheong ware suggests that, although elephants were exceedingly rare in Korea, they were not entirely unknown. Their depiction reflects a cultural awareness of elephants, likely filtered through trade, artistic exchange, and inherited visual traditions rather than firsthand encounters.
The Arrival of Joseon’s First Elephant: A Gift with Consequences
On 22 February 1411, an extraordinary gift from Japan arrived in Joseon Korea: an elephant. The first recorded on the Korean Peninsula, it caused great excitement as crowds gathered to see the strange and majestic creature. Not everyone was impressed, however. In December 1412, former court official Lee Woo mocked the elephant, spat at it, and hurled insults. The provoked beast reacted violently: stomping him to death. This marked the start of its troubled history in Korea.
By early 1413, Minister of War Yu Jeong-hyeon petitioned King Taejong to remove the elephant, calling it dangerous, wasteful, and useless. While execution was a fitting punishment for a human murderer, exile seemed more appropriate for the beast.
Unbeknownst to the king, the elephant had a violent past. It had arrived in Japan in 1408, likely from Southeast Asia, and was presented to Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimochi. Its insatiable appetite and aggressive nature soon proved troublesome, and after it trampled a handler to death, the Japanese court sought to rid themselves of it: sending it to Korea as a diplomatic gift.
King Taejong initially took pity on the animal, exiling it to an island off South Jeolla Province with orders for its care. But by 1414, reports of unsuitable vegetation and the elephant’s visible distress—shedding tears at the sight of humans—moved the king to recall it to the mainland. Relocated to the Jeolla region, the elephant’s vast appetite and foul temper continued to frustrate officials. In 1420, the governor proposed rotating its care among provinces to ease the burden, a request that was granted.
Eventually, the elephant was sent to Gongju in Chungcheong Province, but by 1421, exasperation reached a peak. Another fatal attack and its continued drain on resources led officials to seek a final solution. Though King Taejong remained sympathetic, history remains silent on the elephant’s fate. Whether it perished from neglect, starvation, or other causes, its final days remain a mystery.The details of this remarkable elephant's journey were documented in an article published by The Korea Times, which sheds further light on its historical significance (source).
While elephants were never native to Korea, their presence in art and history demonstrates the country’s connections to wider networks of trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange. From the misunderstood buncheong depictions to the troubled tale of Joseon’s first elephant, these creatures occupy a fascinating place in Korea’s historical imagination; both real and symbolic.
Kommentare