The turtle is a symbol of wisdom and perseverance. In many cultures, it represents patience, strength, and stability. Turtles are seen as symbols of protection and long life, but they also remind us to keep moving forward, no matter how slow.
Let’s take a closer look at what the turtle represents!
The Turtle: Basic Information
Turtles are reptiles (same as snakes and lizards!), and they have existed for over 200 million years, making them one of the oldest reptile groups.
Turtles have 3 anatomical parts:
- Shell: The most distinctive feature of turtles is their shell, which is divided into two parts: the carapace (upper shell) and the plastron (lower shell).
- Limbs: Turtles have four limbs; their structure varies depending on their habitat. Aquatic turtles have webbed feet or flippers, while terrestrial turtles have sturdy, columnar legs.
- Head: Turtles do not have teeth. Instead, they have beaks made of keratin, which are adapted to their diet.
Turtle Symbolism Across Cultures
Across cultures, turtles are known for these characteristics:
- Longevity and Stability
- Creation Myth
- Wisdom and Knowledge
- Protection
- Resilience
- Peace
- Environmentalism
1. Longevity and Stability
Turtles live a very long time, and science explains why. Their slow metabolism helps reduce damage to their cells, keeping them healthier for longer. Their hard shells also protect them from predators, and their careful nature helps them avoid danger, increasing their chances of survival.
In Chinese culture, turtles are seen as symbols of longevity. An old saying claims they can “live for 300 years, wandering on lotus leaves, and stay beneath the mugwort for 3,000 years.” In ancient China, stone or bronze turtle carvings were placed in imperial palaces and tombs to represent lasting prosperity.
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In ancient China, people sometimes named children after turtles, hoping they would live long lives. A famous example is Li Guinian, a musician from the Tang Dynasty. Chinese idioms like “the longevity of the tortoise and crane” also reflect this belief. Since the Han Dynasty, the term “tortoise-dragon” has been used to describe outstanding individuals, while “tortoise age” refers to old age.
During the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Xianzong (806-820) was once gifted a turtle with fur. He saw it as a lucky omen, but in reality, it wasn’t fur—just algae that had grown on its shell over many years. This connects to a phrase from the Śūraṅgama Sūtra: “turtle hair and rabbit horns,” meaning something impossible.
Japan, influenced by Chinese culture, still sees turtles as symbols of longevity. However, in China, the meaning has changed over time. In recent centuries, the turtle has gained negative connotations, sometimes representing humiliation or cowardice. The idea comes from how turtles retreat into their shells, leading to phrases that suggest weakness or disgrace.
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Urashima Tarō and princess of Horai, by Matsuki Heikichi (1899)
Another mention of the turtle with symbolism for longevity in Japanese folklore is Urashima Taro.
In the story, a man named Urashima Taro saves a turtle and is taken to a magical underwater castle. There, the turtle turns into a princess named Otohime. She dances for him and gives him a treasure box, warning him not to open it.
After a few days in the castle, Urashima Taro returns home, only to find that 100 years have passed. Ignoring the princess’s warning, he opens the box—and instantly turns into an old man.
This legend, dating back to the 8th century, has been told in many versions, but the main story stays the same.
2. Creation Myth
The turtle appears in so many creation myths. It is seen as a symbol of balance between the two elements of yin and yang. Its flat belly symbolizes the earth (yin), while its shell represents the sky (yang). The combination of these two elements plays an important role in creating and maintaining life on Earth, while demonstrating the balance and harmony between opposing forces in the universe.
The turtle creation myth appears in Hindu mythology, Chinese mythology, as well as some Native American tribe mythologies.
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Here are some creation myths associated with the turtle:
- Iroquois (North America) – In their creation story, Sky Woman fell from the sky and landed on the back of a giant turtle, which grew into the land, forming Earth. Some versions say she gave birth to twin sons—the Good Mind (Righteousness) and the Evil Mind (Discord)—who shaped humanity’s fate. The turtle is an important totem for the Iroquois, with some clans tracing their ancestry to a turtle that shed its shell.
- Maidu (California, USA) – In this myth, a turtle dove to the bottom of the ocean and brought up a bit of soil under its nails. God used this soil to form a ball, which grew until it became the universe.
- Buriats (Mongolia) – Their story says that in the beginning, there was only water and a turtle. God flipped the turtle onto its back and built the world on its stomach.
- China – The turtle is one of the Four Supernatural Creatures along with the dragon, qilin (unicorn), and fenghuang (phoenix). Its shell is linked to the sky, and its flat belly represents the earth, symbolizing balance and stability. In another myth, there was a great disaster caused the sky’s pillars to collapse. To restore order, Nüwa, the goddess who created humanity, used the legs of a giant turtle, Ao, as new pillars to hold up the heavens. However, because the legs were uneven, the sky remained slightly tilted, explaining why rivers in China flow eastward.
- Hindu mythology: in Hindu there’s a belief in a cosmic turtle named Kurma. It’s said that during the churning of the cosmic ocean, Kurma supported Mount Mandara on its back, helping to stabilize the world. This symbolizes the idea of balance and support in Hindu cosmology, with the turtle serving as a foundational element of the universe.
–> See how the Serpent also appeared frequently in creation myths
3. Wisdom and Knowledge
In Hinduism, the god Vishnu once took the form of a tortoise to help the gods churn the ocean and create the nectar of immortality. Many Indian paintings show a tortoise as the base of the cosmic churning staff. Another important figure, the sage Kasyapa (or Prajapati), is said to have taken the form of a tortoise and is considered the ancestor of all humans.
Turtles appear in many moral stories, teaching lessons about patience and cleverness. For example, in a famous Aesop’s Fables – The Tortoise and the Hare teaches that slow and steady wins the race. In some versions, the tortoise wins by tricking the hare with look-alike family members. Meanwhile, in Nigerian Yoruba Folktales – The tortoise is clever but sometimes greedy. Here’s a story on how the turtle’s gluttony cost him his shell.
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Ancient civilizations used the turtle’s shell for divination, a practice known as the carapace oracle. By applying heat to the shell, they interpreted the resulting cracks and fissures to predict future events, revealing omens—both good and bad.
In Vietnam, turtles also symbolize wisdom and knowledge. They were chosen to carry stone stelae honoring the country’s top scholars. This tradition is seen at the Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu), founded in 1070 by Emperor Lý Thánh Tông as a tribute to Confucius, sages, and scholars. The temple later became home to Vietnam’s first university, Quốc Tử Giám, established in 1076. For over 700 years, it educated mandarins, scholars, and intellectuals. The presence of turtle statues in the temple reflects their deep connection to wisdom, learning, and longevity.
4. Protection and Support
In the graves of Chinese emperors, each pillar is placed on a turtle. According to some legends, a turtle alone supported a sky pillar, which was destroyed by Gong Gong, the lord of giants. Lie Zi, a famous Chinese scholar, said that the fairy islands only stand firm when placed on the back of a turtle.
In Vietnamese mythology, turtles are powerful and sacred creatures.
One famous legend tells of the Golden Turtle, a messenger of the River Deity, who helped King An Dương Vương build Cổ Loa Citadel in the 2nd or 3rd century BCE. The Turtle Deity gifted the king a divine crossbow, capable of shooting thousands of arrows at once, making his kingdom nearly impossible to defeat. Beyond its great divine power, the Golden Turtle was believed to ward off evil spirits and was seen as a national treasure, symbolizing wealth and abundance.
Another well-known myth is the Story of the Lake of the Returned Sword (Hồ Hoàn Kiếm). In the 15th century, Lê Lợi, a hero who led Vietnam’s fight against the Chinese Ming dynasty, was given a magical sword. With its power, he successfully drove out the invaders and became king.
One day, while boating on a lake, a giant turtle appeared and asked for the sword’s return. Realizing the turtle was a divine being who had helped him, Lê Lợi knew his mission was complete. He returned the sword, and the turtle disappeared beneath the water, signifying the return of peace and harmony. From that moment, the lake was named Hoàn Kiếm Lake (Lake of the Returned Sword), and the story became a lasting symbol of Vietnamese independence and resilience.
5. Fear
Interestingly, in Egyptian, the turtle symbolism was much less positive.
In ancient Egypt, turtles were revered for their mysterious ability to submerge themselves underwater. They were considered powerful creatures and their images were often used for protection against evil.
Egyptian magicians commonly adorned their wooden and bronze rods, often referred to as “magic wands” today, with images of turtles. These rods were used in magic rites, held in the left hand of priests or magicians.
In Greek mythology, the hero Theseus faced many challenges on his journey, including a dangerous bandit named Sciron.
Sciron had a cruel trick—he made travelers wash his feet, then suddenly kicked them off a cliff into the sea, where a giant turtle waited to eat them. But when Theseus arrived, he outsmarted Sciron. Instead of becoming his next victim, Theseus grabbed Sciron and threw him into the sea, where he was devoured by his own monstrous turtle.
6. Environmentalism
Turtles are important symbols of environmental conservation because they are highly vulnerable to pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction.
Plastic pollution is one of the biggest threats. Sharp plastic can injure turtles internally, and plastic bags can block their intestines, causing them to starve. Even if they survive, floating plastic can make it harder for them to move, grow, and reproduce.
Pollution affects turtles at every stage of life, from eggs to adults. Toxic chemicals, oil spills, and untreated waste pollute the water and destroy nesting beaches. Many turtle habitats overlap with areas affected by offshore oil drilling, exposing them to even more dangers.
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