What do "fish" and "water" symbolize in China traditional culture and art?

In recent studies of ancient sexual culture, fish is often regarded as a symbol of vulva (see Liu Dalin's Ancient Sexual Culture in China). This expression seems to be not very scientific. Ancient people worshipped fish, not because it looked like a vulva, but because it had strong reproductive ability. At that time, human beings had many difficulties in their own production, faced with natural threats such as childbirth, diseases and wild animals, and the neonatal mortality rate was high. The ancients hoped that people would prosper. They worship the extraordinary reproductive ability of fish. Therefore, fish is a symbol of vulva (not a symbol), a symbol of reproductive worship and a spiritual appeal to future generations. When Banpo people worship fish, it is still a matriarchal clan society.

Water has indeed evolved in Taoist thought.

Laozi said, "Good is like water", "Water is the good of all things, and it is the evil of all people, so it is a few words". What I'm actually talking about here is the way to be a man, that is, to be a man should nourish everything like water, but never compete with everything. This kind of character is closest to Tao. Water has five virtues. Because of its constant flow, it can popularize all beings, as if there were virtues. Flow must be downward, not backward, nor square or long, it must be rational, as if it were just; Vast, as if there is a road; It seems brave to flow through hundreds of mountains without fear; Placement is not uneven, as if obeying the law; See how much, don't shave, it seems to be upright; Pervasive, as if penetrating; Originated in the west, as if determined; Take it out and put it back. Everything is clean and seems to be good at change. Water has these virtues, and a gentleman must look forward to it when he meets it.

It can be said that water is the sublimation of spirit. ...