人類藉由葫蘆多籽的特徵，從形象的意象轉換成具體的圖騰信仰，在祭祀活動中，藉葫蘆的特徵表現出繁衍後代的期望，本文從文獻、文物以及中國西南各少數民族的文獻資料相互印證之心得，發現葫蘆與人之出生到死亡，都有著不解之緣。初民用葫蘆製器，在叩皿或吹奏時，肢體的律動應節而歌，擊節起舞，在拙樸激越的歌舞聲中，歌頌著葫蘆賜予人類的生存與繁衍，自此華夏的樂舞文明由是而生。

Since time began, mankind has looked upon the humble gourd as a symbol of fertility. Totems have been designed in the shape of the gourd and revered in worship by devotees seeking ethereal help in producing offspring. This paper incorporates information gathered from historical accounts,relics and local folklore to highlight the close association of life and death with the gourd.During ancient times, the gourd was used to make percussion receptacles that generated musical notes when struck. Then people started singing and dancing to these joyous sounds,
celebrating life and the continuity of life bestowed by the gourd. That was the beginning of a culture of dancing to music. Tracing the path from man’s worship of the gourd through to the birth of musical dance, this
paper attests to the notion of “the dance of life” as inspired by the life-giving gourd.