Four Harmonious Animals part 1

While travelling around Tibet I enjoyed listening about historic events that have affected people. An authentic approach to culture diving is to have an interactive approach, engaging locals where possible. Perhaps unintentionally, I stumbled across a telling of folk tales and this particular story of the Four Harmonious Animals was something I found memorable. This is a tale that is famous in Buddhist mythology and has been told through many different mediums including art, religious decoration and other forms. This is regarded as national folktale that everyone will have heard or come to know about when growing up in Tibet. The same is also true for those residing in Mongolia and Bhutan.

The most recognisable art forms are paintings depicting a tower of animals that are standing on one another. The foundation of this tree is a majestic elephant, strong and large. Atop its back, a money who offers its support to a hare who postures itself up towards a bird in the tree. The general story unfolds as a tale about the four animals who wished to determine who was the oldest among them.