Being a sign of promise, the crab's image frequently appears in the adornments on household utensils and implements as well as in paintings.
卷就孤標人不識，時來黃甲獨傳臚。」黃甲即螃蟹之意，徐文長一生經過鄉試八次失敗，終於放棄求取功名的念頭。絕望於仕途是他終生憾事，所以他常畫蘆蟹，寓意「傳臚」，應是這種心理的反映。