Symbols of China - animal totems in culture and art  

Animal mascots are another form of spiritual guides; they, like guardian angels, protect their owner, giving him strength and confidence.

Even the ancient Slavs believed that every person has his own talisman in the form of an animal. They tried to adopt the best character traits, skills and abilities from animals. Sometimes even a child was given a double name at birth - the second one reflecting his connection with his own totem. It is believed that you do not choose the animal; rather, it chooses or has already chosen you. Shamans around the world have relied on the guidance, wisdom, and symbolism of spirit animals for thousands of years.

Animal mascots according to zodiac sign

A spirit animal is like a teacher or messenger who comes in the form of our lesser brothers to give one of us a lesson, or protection, strength or wisdom.

In the modern world, specialist astrologers and numerologists have studied this issue in detail and were able to determine in detail which animal mascots are suitable for each zodiac sign.

Capricorn

Capricorn is an earth sign. It is ruled by the planet Saturn. People who were born under the auspices of this constellation are distinguished by practicality and the ability to achieve their goals.

• In order to choose a totem for themselves, Capricorns should pay close attention to a black cat or cat. Despite the fact that this animal enjoys a bad reputation, this is true exclusively for other zodiac signs, but not Capricorns. Having such an amulet with them, representatives of this zodiac sign will be able to provide themselves with protection, good luck in business, and attract or maintain love.
• In addition to a cat, a turtle is also suitable for Capricorn. This unhurried and wise animal moves towards its intended goal, albeit slowly, but without veering off the path. It is recommended for one of the Capricorn spouses who have just gotten married to acquire a turtle figurine. She will be able to save the marriage, make their life together long and happy.

In order to ensure the protection of your animal talisman, you can wear a pendant with its image or place figurines and images of the totem in your apartment.

A figurine of a goat will give Capricorn more confidence in his actions and at the same time give him universal calm and fullness of sensations.

• The symbol of knowledge and wisdom - the Owl - is perfect for Capricorns. Considering such a Capricorn character trait as a tireless pursuit of intellectual development, the night bird talisman will help develop innovative thinking, gain authority, achieve career success, and protect its owner from rash actions.

Aquarius

Air patronizes Aquarius. This is what determined the choice of the totem animal.

• A fast bird with wings that can lift it up is what is best suited for representatives of this zodiac sign. You can also use all images that are endowed with wings - angels, airplanes. If a real bird lives in the apartment - it’s just wonderful. But it’s worth considering that you can’t keep her locked up all the time - let her out more often to fly around the apartment or house. And be careful when you put it in the cage - don’t damage the wings.
• Crane. This bird is a symbol of renewal and bestows its owner with a sharp mind and creative thinking.
• A talisman in the form of a dove can protect Aquarius from danger and help them free themselves from the framework that this zodiac sign often builds in their head.
• Animal amulets in the form of a horse and a sheep can help Aquarius achieve their goals and strive upward towards their dreams. But, at the same time, the goat will be able to prevent this zodiac sign from flying too far in its aspirations. A goat figurine will contribute to the formation of a strong family.

Camel figurine. This calm and wise animal will help representatives of the air element find regularity and inner peace.

Fish

• When choosing a talisman according to their zodiac sign, Pisces should pay close attention to installing an aquarium with bright and colorful fish or turtles within the walls of their own home. They will be able to adjust the rhythm of life of people of the water sign. They will give regularity to life, protect against unnecessary empty fuss. Communication with a pet will stabilize emotions, replenish vitality, and set the mood for positivity.
• An amulet in the shape of a snail will help Pisces adapt as much as possible to the harsh conditions of the modern world, increasing their survival rate.
• Budgerigars or canaries will help improve the mood of the fish . They are also able to have a beneficial effect on health and bring peace and tranquility to the family.

Butterfly-shaped jewelry will help Pisces catch a wave of success in all areas of life.

Aries

Animal amulets for Aries must have horns - a goat, a sheep, a deer, a mountain sheep - can provide a surge of strength and vitality. The best option is to place a figurine or image in a visible place in your home or on your desktop. Don’t get too carried away by placing a lot of totem animals in different corners of the rooms. This may have too strong an effect. And Aries, who already have a tough temperament, can become even more stubborn and intractable.

Where do legs grow from?

Why did animals suddenly begin to mean something? Where did all these allegories come from? The point is that since ancient times, human life (including primitive life) in all its manifestations was closely connected with the animal world, one might even say inextricably linked. It was so before, and it is so now. It is no coincidence that we often call animals “our little brothers” - they are indeed present everywhere in human life: in signs, legends, fairy tales, myths, religious beliefs, and so on. Even in the sky there are animals! The word “zodiac,” by the way, is translated from ancient Greek as “animal.”

Among certain peoples, certain animals are considered sacred (more on this will be discussed later). All in all, it is clear that the lives of animals and humans are as closely intertwined as imaginable. Therefore, it is not surprising that it was animals that began to personify for people certain qualities that they wanted or did not want to be endowed with; began to personify moral and spiritual phenomena. It is no coincidence that in myths the gods always had symbols of animals - this means that each god possessed or desired to possess specifically the quality that was inherent in the animal he chose. It is noteworthy that often one animal could have more than one meaning: for example, everyone knows the fox as a savvy cunning person, but in some places it is also credited with wisdom (and, surprisingly, on the contrary, stupidity). Next, we’ll talk in more detail about the symbolism of animals.

A talisman in the form of an animal can be selected without being guided by a horoscope

Choose what you want to attract in a worldly or spiritual sense:

Owl

What does the owl symbolize? The first thing that comes to mind is wisdom. It is with this epithet that she is most often mentioned - wise owl. It is no coincidence that various intellectual clubs and circles often choose the image of this bird - omniscient and erudite - as an emblem or logo. The owl is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, as it has been considered since time immemorial. In mythology, she was a symbol of the goddess Athena - a wise warrior. In addition to wisdom, the bird is also credited with a prophetic gift - it often becomes a harbinger of certain events. This is a very sensitive and understanding bird, also prone to bouts of melancholy. And the appearance of the owl, the habit of looking without blinking, piercing yellow eyes, an equally piercing guttural cry and complete silence led to the fact that the owl began to be associated with death. So, answering the question of what the owl symbolizes, you can, in addition to the above, add: darkness, darkness, death. This meaning, as well as the meaning of loneliness, despondency, despair, is typical for countries such as Japan, China, India, North America, and Ancient Egypt.

In many nations, an owl is not just a prophet, but a harbinger of misfortune, misfortune, perhaps even death, a devilish bird that is tamed by witches and sorcerers (by the way, they themselves are capable of taking on an owl’s form). In connection with this meaning, it is interesting to recall the series of books about “Harry Potter” by the British writer JK Rowling, which largely relied on various beliefs and rituals: it is the owls in the magical world of “Harry Potter” who are a kind of postmen, bringing letters to the magicians as having good content (for example, about admission to Hogwarts school), and not very good ones (for example, about expulsion from it). It is this representative of the fauna that is a favorite pet and assistant among magicians, but it cannot be said that it is owned exclusively by evil sorcerers and witches: for example, the owl of the main character - a positive character - is itself very positive.

Returning to the symbolism of animals, we must also add that in Christianity, the owl, in addition to all of the above, also meant solitude and loneliness. She was often mentioned in the same category as hermits, and with praying hermits. The owl was also attributed the meaning of a widow, an old maid and the keeper of underground treasures. Thus, it cannot be said categorically that the owl is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. This image has many other interesting meanings.

How to use animal talismans correctly

In order to choose the right talismans for different zodiac signs, you must first understand what a person lacks in life. It is this trait that the totem animal must compensate for. Another option is, on the contrary, to strengthen existing predispositions.

• So, for fire signs, powerful and aggressive animals, such as wild cats, are mascots, but at the same time, slow turtles can also exert their beneficial influence.
• For aquatic constellations, insects and representatives of the world of fish and reptiles are suitable. Birds also work well on the weaknesses of their charges.
• For air signs, birds are the main totems. Also, hares, foxes, hawks - all those who can show cunning and dexterity will be able to give the right direction to these air signs.
• Earthly representatives will improve their character under the influence of strong and kind animals, such as bull and deer, elephant and elk.

To attract good luck into your life and find inner peace, you don’t have to have these animals at home. It is enough to carry their figures with you, or keep their image in sight.

When choosing a totem, you need to pay attention to your own feelings. It is important that the sensual connections are strong and in no way cause discomfort.

Veiltail (“Goldfish”)

In addition to the fact that aquarium fish are the quietest pets that do not cause any harm, they also bring monetary luck. But, in order for the fish, as in the fairy tale, to “fulfill wishes”, you must adhere to some rules.

So, for example, the aquarium should be of medium size and should be located in the south-eastern part of the house. And most importantly, there should be 9 fish, despite the fact that one of them can be black, but all the rest must be gold.

Harmful creatures of Chinese mythology

They can be called antitotems of good animals; they also represent five groups: snakes; centipedes, centipedes; scorpions and spiders; lizards; toads.

The snake is one of the five harmful creatures, and at the same time belongs to the astrological symbols. This is the YIN principle, flexibility and fertility. The qualities of a snake, which are enshrined in Chinese traditions, are wisdom, but cunning and treachery. The snake's ability to grow by shedding old skin and acquiring new skin makes it also a symbol of transformation.

Some ancient Chinese deities are depicted with a serpentine lower half of their body, which describes their nature in a special way.

There is a legend about the seduction of a monk by a white snake that turned into a woman, and the birth of their son, a great scientist.

Snake skin is considered as a talisman of good fortune. Snake meat, liver and venom are used in folk medicine.

Centipede - as one of the harmful animals, it is used in potions that act magically and powerfully. The Chinese midsummer festival "Dragon Boats" symbolically gives people the opportunity to remove centipedes from their homes and cleanse themselves of them.

The spider - although it belongs (paired with a scorpio) to harmful animals, is at the same time recognized as a happy creature. After all, he with his web is located high, hangs over everyone and is perceived as luck descending to a person from above, from heaven.

Lizard, gecko is one of the negative creatures in Chinese tradition. Since it is found in houses and is an insect catcher, it is called the “wall tiger”, recognizing its hunting abilities.

The gecko was used in magic and folk medicine to solve issues of adultery (detection, suppression of “trips to the left”).

Toad (frog) is one of the harmful creatures. But as often happens in China, there are contradictions in the symbolism of toads. For example, the croaking of a toad resembles the sounds of a Chinese child, so it can be given as a wish for children.

She is also associated with monetary energy; she is a companion of the god of wealth. Therefore, this is a well-known symbol of coins, money - it seems that toads and wealth have a close connection. Banks of money in the shape of porcelain toads are placed at Chinese temples for offerings.

If you are given a toad, this is a simple and specific wish for wealth and financial well-being.

a lion

Everyone knows: the lion is the king of beasts. It is royal (and generally higher) power, nobility, aristocracy that this animal symbolizes. The lion is a symbol of courage, fearlessness, and courage. It denotes honor, strength, greatness. But the lioness symbolizes motherhood and endless love. In many nations she is revered as a mother goddess. And Buddhists believe that Buddha used a lion as one of his guises. The features of this animal were often used in the depiction of other mythical characters to endow them with qualities inherent in a lion (for example, sphinxes or chimeras).

In the Middle Ages, people endowed the king of beasts with the ability to sleep with his eyes open, which is why the lion is a symbol of the vigilant eye, the vigilant eternal guard. Like the bear, this is a contradictory figure - on the one hand, Christians saw in him the personification of the Son of God, on the other - devilish forces, since the devil wants to devour human virtue with the same force as a lion seeks to catch prey.

Hare

If we're talking about the wolf, how can we not say a few words about the hare and what it symbolizes? If an eagle, for example, is compared with the sun, then a hare, on the contrary, is identified with the moon: ancient people recognized galloping hares in spots on the moon. Or rabbits, which, in general, doesn’t matter. The symbol of the hare is fertility, dexterity, magical power, as well as excessive self-confidence and bragging.

Among the ancient Romans and Greeks, the scythe was considered the animal of Aphrodite/Venus, Eros/Cupid and Hermes/Mercury, who used it as a messenger. And among many peoples of the world, hares, known for their frequent reproduction, denote the female process of reproduction (for example, among the Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, Celts, Indians, and so on). But among the Jews, the hare/rabbit symbolizes wickedness and lust, which is perhaps partly why in Christianity the meaning of the hare is lust. However, thanks to the animal’s ability to quickly jump, wandering and covering its tracks, Christians also identify it with a believer, restless and seeking salvation in God.

Cow

Many people are interested in why the cow is a sacred animal in India. This question will certainly be answered a little later, but for now we’ll just talk about the meaning of this animal. In all countries of the world, among all peoples, the cow is primarily a symbol of motherhood (since it gives milk), as well as fertility and prosperity.

In mythology, the cow symbolizes the womb of Mother Earth, where everything that exists on her is gestated. The symbolism of the animal among the Egyptians is vital warmth, among the Slavs it is a heavenly mother feeding the earth with her milk. The cow also signifies patience and endurance.