Young Woman Seated on a White Elephant (parody of the Bodhisattva Fugen) c. 1767 - 1768

This parody of the Bodhisattva Fugen was made by Suzuki Harunobu in the 18th century using woodblock print techniques. The serene woman you see here, seated upon a white elephant, echoes the traditional iconography of Fugen, a bodhisattva associated with virtue and wisdom. The elephant itself is no mere beast; it is a symbol of strength, gentleness, and the power of enlightenment. Consider how the elephant motif has appeared across cultures, from ancient India to Southeast Asia. It often represents royalty and divine knowledge. But here, Harunobu playfully subverts this sacred image. Instead of a divine figure, we have a fashionable woman, perhaps a courtesan, engrossed in a letter. This juxtaposition invites us to reflect on the shifting nature of symbols. It reminds us that the sacred and the profane are not always so far apart. It reveals the inherent human tendency to question and adapt cultural narratives to the changing times.