General Category > Frequently Asked SFC Questions

Why the Elephant?

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Hock:
Probably, directly, hunting the elephant and getting guides to hunt the elephant has to be origin of the expression. Hunters always wanted a guide that has "seen the elephant."
But it caught on worldwide as having been experienced in something round and/or dangerous.

It was uses for war vets in the Civil War, or if pioneers made it all across the Oregon Trail.
It was somewhat popular in the 1900s on to maybe the 1980s? Or so?

Now people do not use it in their vernacular and it means little to folks without an explanation.

Hock

Bryan:


When provoked the elephant is the single most violent creature on the face of the earth. There is also evidence they are almost human like in memory and relationships. Having spent some time around them in Thailand I got the impression they picked out people they liked and remembered them as individuals. I also heard stories of them terrorizing villages in the past, now there are very few wild ones left. Every year there were Elephants going bad savagely killing their handlers.

My understanding the term, "have you seen the elephant?" comes from the days of black powder arms and elephant confrontations. Its well known amongst hunters that a wounded elephant is the most dangerous game one can hunt. Even tigers and Griz pale in comparison to the danger of the elephant.

Canuk:
The term "have you seen the Elephant" is being used in drink drive commercials in my area and is basically something that everyone sees as a problem but chooses to ignore for thier own reasons

Hock:
Yeah that sounds like the "elephant in the room" theme, used when people are ignoring a big problem.

Hock

Hock:
Jiyu Yushi -  "For those who may wonder about the above historical tapesrty (replica), it is from the Getty's copy of Fiore dei Liberi's 1410 manuscript: FIOR di BATTAGLIA or FLOWER OF BATTLE. It alleges the main power cuts and thrust for a sword. The accompany "spirit" animals encompass Maestro Fiore's concepts a knight needed for success in battle: The 12 O'clock animal, the Lynx represents the learned and innate sensitivity needed to discern actual correct need to the task, with its subsequent distance, timing and positioning forthcoming from that need. The 3 O'clock animal, the Lion, represents the necessity of a bold and daring heart, as without that, the following applications are worthless. The 6 O'clock animal, the Elephant and castle thereupon perched, symbolizes both unfettered mind and unwavering strength of purpose and application. Too many think it is about physical balance and strength. True Combatants, of which Maestro was one, knows mental balance and mental strength usurp physical strength and balance. The 9 O'clock animal, the Tiger represents adaptability to the ever-changing circumstances of the contextual field of combat. The tiger quickly adapts to this dynamic environment, engaging what must be done as it must be accomplished. Ken Mondschein offers a nice little manual from the Getty-owned manuscript: THE KNIGHTLY ART OF BATTLE."

The 6 O'clock animal, the Elephant and castle thereupon perched, symbolizes both unfettered mind and unwavering strength of purpose and application. Too many think it is about physical balance and strength. True Combatants, of which Maestro was one, knows mental balance and mental strength usurp physical strength and balance.

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