Samantabhadra rides on the six-tusked white elephant.
Six-tusked White Elephant (Chinese:六牙白象) is the mount of bodhisattva Samantabhadra (普賢菩薩). As its name suggests, this white elephant traditionally has three pairs of tusks, though in artistic representations, it is sometimes depicted with only one pair of tusks. Additionally, variations include depictions of a three-headed elephant or Samantabhadra riding on a four-headed white elephant.[1]
According to texts such as the Karma Sutra (因果经), when Śākyamuni Buddha descended from the Tuṣita Heaven (兜率天宫) to be born into the human world, he rode on a six-tusked white elephant. His mother, Queen Māyā, dreamed of a six-tusked white elephant entering her womb during a midday nap, and this vision heralded the birth of Śākyamuni Buddha. The Abhidharma-mahāvibhāṣā Śāstra (部宗轮论) states, "All bodhisattvas, when entering their mother's womb, take the form of a white elephant."[1]
The Samantabhadra Contemplation Sutra (普贤观经) further elaborates that the six-tusked white elephant king is the mount of Samantabhadra. It teaches that if one contemplates and repents sincerely, the bodhisattva will manifest riding the six-tusked white elephant. The six tusks of the white elephant symbolize the Six Pāramitās (六度, the six perfections of generosity, morality, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom), while its four legs represent the Four Bases of Spiritual Power (四如意, the four foundations of aspiration, effort, intention, and analysis). Alternatively, the six tusks are said to symbolize the Six Supernatural Powers (六通, the six higher knowledges or abhijñā).[1]
Literature
In Journey to the West, the White Elephant descends to the mortal world for seven days (equivalent to thousands of years in the human realm) alongside Manjusri Bodhisattva's Blue Lion and the Golden-Winged Great Peng. Together, they transform into demons, with the White Elephant taking the form of Yellow-Tusked Old Elephant (serving as the second king). They establish their stronghold at Lion-Camel Ridge and Lion-Camel Cave, commanding a group of lesser demons. Their goal is to capture and consume the flesh of Tang Sanzang to gain immortality, leading to a fierce battle with Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing. While Sun Wukong manages to evade capture, the other three are seized by the demons. Unable to defeat the three demons alone, Sun Wukong seeks the assistance of Manjusri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Tathagata Buddha (如来佛祖). With their divine intervention, the three demons are ultimately subdued and brought under control.[2]
In Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi), the White Elephant is depicted as Lingya Xian (靈牙仙, "Immortal of Numinous Tusks"), a disciple of the Jie Sect (截教). Due to conflicts between Huoling Shengmu (火靈聖母) and Guang Chengzi, exacerbated by the scheming of Shen Gongbao, tensions escalate between the Jie Sect and the Chan Sect (闡教), ultimately leading to war. During the Battle of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation (萬仙陣), he commands the Two Forms Formation (兩儀陣) to confront the disciples of the Chan Sect and the Zhou army. However, Puxian Zhenren (普賢真人, the precursor to Samantabhadra Bodhisattva in the narrative) defeats Lingya Xian using the Taiji Talisman Seal (太極符印), forcing him to reveal his true form as a white elephant. Subsequently, the White Elephant becomes the mount of Puxian Zhenren.[3][4]
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