Chang explained that members of the Rukai tribe believed their ancestors were descended from snakes, which explains the predominance of snake motifs.
張木養從衣箱中取出幾件已有百餘年歷史的山地刺繡和衣服為我們解說。他指著一件繡工精細而富麗堂皇的魯凱族頭目的衣服道：魯凱人相信自己的祖先是蛇變的，因此喜歡刺繡蛇紋；他們把繡好的蛇紋布，剪排於衣服上面，四周再用銀片縫綴。