What is the symbolic meaning and cultural significance of whales
Whales are a type of animal in the ocean world, and they have a long history on Earth. Many people want to know what symbolic meaning whales have?
1. What symbolic meaning do whales have
Whales have many symbolic meanings, mainly the following.
1. Maternity: Whales are the largest animals on Earth, and also the oldest and most intelligent animals. They have both a gentle nature and a fierce side. In the history of human culture, whales are a symbol of maternity.
2. Rebirth: The Bible · Old Testament records that the prophet Jonah was swallowed by a whale in a shipwreck, stayed in its belly for three days and three nights, and finally came out safe and sound, successfully escaping danger. Some scholars believe that the story of the prophet Jonah and the whale hints at the fall of Babylon and the salvation of the Jews. Therefore, the whale here also means rebirth.
3. Lofty ambitions: In ancient China, whales were called “kuns”, and the ambition of the kun and peng was used to describe great aspirations.
4. Forging ahead and freedom: Large whales roam freely and keep moving forward in the vast boundless ocean.
2. What kind of animal is a whale
Whales are the collective name for animals of the order Cetacea. Cetaceans are divided into the suborder Mysticeti and the suborder Odontoceti, and further down, they can be divided into 14 families and nearly more than 90 species. Through long evolution, great differences have emerged among them in body size, living habits, and other aspects.
Cetaceans are fully aquatic mammals, with body lengths between 1-30 m, bare skin, very little hair only on the snout, and thick fat under the skin. This fat helps maintain body temperature, and when they live in water, it can reduce body specific gravity and help with swimming.
They mainly feed on fish, mollusks, and zooplankton in the sea.
Driven by profit, many whales with high economic value are already on the verge of extinction under the dual pressure of environmental deterioration and human hunting. We should protect animals, protect nature, and achieve harmonious development.