Thailand

Questions:

（1）What’s the relationship between pepole and elephants in Thailand?

（2）Which elephant is the most nobal?

There is a strong bond(关系) between the Thai people and elephants. Elephants hold a revered place in society, because of their symbolic importance to monarchs(君主，帝王), religion, and the nation as a whole.

Thai tradition abounds with examples of the elephant playing an important role in the workings of the Kingdom. Most significant of all, perhaps, is the white elephant, prized because it is a rare animal judged fit only for royal duties.

According to ancient royal Thai traditions, a white elephant is a noble beast(兽) of special importance, exemplifying a king's honor and glory. Known in Thai as Chang Samkhan, a white elephant is a gift fit for a king and to acquire one during his reign, will bring about prosperity(幸运，兴旺) and happiness throughout the kingdom.

If any province in Thailand comes across a white elephant, the find has to be reported to the Ministry of Interior. They notify the Bureau of the Royal Household, which conducts a physical examination to decide if the elephant bears the complete characteristics of a special, noble beast.