When humanity was still groping toward an understanding of nature and its myriad beasts, the body of the turtle seemed to encapsulate the order of the universe. Seen in this light, turtles became a link between heaven and earth, and were frequently used in divining ceremonies.
對自然萬物才踩出摸索、試探步伐的人類，一個烏龜身體，正如一個蘊含天地基本秩序的小宇宙，這樣的理解，烏龜遂被認為可上通天、下達地，更被用來執行見存亡、明吉凶的卜巫儀式。