Hezhe ethnic minority

Totem: a symbol of one group, mainly in order to distinguish one group from the other.
From a totem, one can draw inferences about an ethnic group's myths, historical records and customs. In primitive times, it was believed that certain natural objects or animate beings have a blood connection with their ethnic heritage. Therefore, a certain animal or plant could be used as the image or sign of the ethnic group.

By People's Daily Online