The wisdom of the four harmonious friends

They are among the most common motifs in Bhutanese folk art: the bird, the hare, the monkey and the elephant, which form a living tower on top of each other. They can be found on temple murals, stupas and everyday objects. The "four harmonious friends" also appear again and again in other Buddhist regions. But who are they and what do they mean?

The story of the four friends (མཐུན་པ་སྤུན་བཞི།) is told in different variations, but the message is always the same: every being has its own strengths and weaknesses. Only when they are united and treat each other with respect can they achieve what would be impossible alone.

In one version, a pheasant plants a tree. As long as it is small, it can live off its fruit. But the higher the tree grows, the more difficult it becomes for the flightless pheasant to get food.

Then the rabbit appears: It waters the tree, eats what falls to the ground and carries the pheasant on its back so that it can reach the lower fruit. But soon the tree outgrows them both.

The monkey continues to help: he fertilizes the tree, climbs up it and throws the other fruit down. But he doesn't reach the top either.

Finally, the elephant joins in. He protects the tree and carries the other three on his back. Together they now reach even the highest fruit - enough food for everyone.