In folk paper-cut and embroidery works, animals holding grass in the mouth are legendary animals, not natural animals, such as a "Fish holding grass in the mouth," or a rooster, a deer, a rabbit, a sheep, a tiger, a snake, etc. The animals with acrimony appeared in
some local art works are connected with the primitive totem symbols idolized in that area. Mugwort was later sanctified by Taoism as "glossy ganoderma." Then the grass accompanying the totem animals also changed to "A deer holding glossy ganoderma in the mouth," or a tiger, a snake "holding glossy ganoderma in the mouth." These animals were considered symbol of good fortune and celestial being. However, the original art form of "A snake holding mugwort in the mouth" was from the 5000-year-old painted pottery unearthed from Xiangfen of Shanxi Province. The grass in that painting should be mugwort. The same is true in the paper-cut "A snake twining round a rabbit" and "A snake holding grass in the mouth," which are still quite popular in this area today.
Dragon has been a totem figure for all nationalities in China. The 5"~ of the fifth lunar month is the Dragon Rising Day. Every year on this day, the bustling dragon boat race along the Yangtze River valley; and nationwide festivities like the dragon lantern fair, dragon dance, lion (belong to tiger branch) dance, are of great cultural and art values.
