Totem

Totems are symbols recognized by ethnic groups or tribes in primitive societies as having a blood or spiritual connection to them, possessing the dual attributes of religious identification and cultural carrier.

They typically take the form of animals or plants (such as wolves, eagles, dragons, and cypress trees) or natural phenomena (such as the sun, moon, thunder, and lightning), and are regarded by the tribe as ancestors, guardian deities, or kinship partners, carrying the tribe's origin legends, spiritual beliefs, and identity. Primitive people expressed reverence through sacrifices and the carving of totem patterns, and totems were also used on tribal flags, artifacts, and tattoos, becoming important markers distinguishing ethnic groups.