"There's a theory that the snake is the reincarnated soul of the elderly monk (it appears just after he dies). If that's the case, then I'd probably be inclined to think that the remaining four could also be reincarnated souls of past residents of the temple.

I've never really subscribed to the idea that the animals are meant to embody a great deal of hidden symbolism - 'Bom yeoreum gauel gyeoul geuigo bom' is the kind of film where there's always room for individual interpretation, but I think people often read in a bit too deeply with the animals. I've always thought that their main purpose was to further emphasise time and the constant changes its entails - the film takes place over the course of one man's lifetime, so presumably the animal companions will always be changing throughout this time. It also gives it a slightly cosy touch, which I liked.

I think there are reasons why the chicken, cat and turtle were picked for their segments. The chicken and the cat both assist the monk in some of the activities specific to their segments (the chicken helps him to return the boat to the temple, and the cat, rather patiently, allows him to use his tail as a paint brush), while they used a turtle for the last sequence presumably because it was an animal that could phsycially endure the new little boy's abuse without being hurt - the scene where the boy plays with the poor turtle was probably used to emphasise his own current lack of respect for other forms of life, and a hint that he presumably will have to learn the same lessons."

Vēl par filmas simboliem (tikai nāksies reģistrēties):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374546/board/thread/8123660