| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立清華大學 === 歷史研究所 === 104 === The history of using elephants and ivory in China can be traced back to the time of Shang Zhou Dynasty( about 3000 years ago). In the ancient China, elephants had mostly been used as royal mounts, whereas ivory had been used to make luxuries and rituals at the same time.
In the past, the researches of Chinese elephants and ivory were predominately focused on two sides: The distribution and migration of herds, and the artistic appreciation of ivory luxuries.
Elephants are rare and can only be found at the southwest China, which makes ivory more precious hereafter. The goal of this thesis is to discuss about the issue that the value of elephants and ivory varies from time to time.
Through the changing of the distribution and migration of elephants, this thesis combines the use and need of ivory evidenced from literatures to realize the dependence in ancient China. Ironically, because of the strong social needs, amounts of elephants were hunted, forcing the herds migrant to southern area. As indicated in this thesis, it is not hard to find out that a negative loop makes getting ivory become harder and harder. The relationship between the migration of elephants and the changeable value of ivory is the main theme of the thesis.
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