A totem is a symbolic construct—a specific emblem, object, or figure—that serves as a representation of a group, family, or individual. Its defining parameters are: (1) it must be a culturally recognized symbol; (2) it functions as a marker of identity and belonging; (3) it often carries spiritual or ancestral significance. The persistence mechanism is intergenerational transmission through ritual, narrative, and material culture, embedding the symbol in collective memory and practice.
[formal: totemus | substrate: mind | horizon: generations | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]