The Cultural Symbolism Of Snake Totem In National Costumes

Under the trend of worshiping nature during ancient times,totem culture came into being.The totem is a symbol of the primitive tribe as a clan.It also has meanings of "symbol" and "sign" and is expressed in various forms of ornamentation.The totem is known as one of the earliest cultural phenomena which represents the beginning of the formation of social organizations.The totem worship of the snake plays a sacred role in the ancient Chinese national culture.The primitive ancestors of China have mixed feelings for the snake.The application of the snake pattern can be traced back thousands of years,which has important influences on customs and ideas of people at that time.Besides,the serpentine ornament also has an essential position in the pattern composition of costumes.This paper analyzes,summarizes and explores the snake patterns on the existing northeastern and other ethnic minority costumes,and tries to understand the cultural values behind the national patterns.To explore the evolution of snake-shaped ornamentation from figuration to symbolization,this paper focuses on the symbolic nature of snake totem in national costume culture,combines the natural characteristics and primitive worship of snakes,and studies the performance of snake patterns in traditional ethnic religions and daily costumes,as well as innovation and application in modern costumes.