The method of Dot Moss on the mountain surface was gradually revealed in the Five Dynasties and the early Song Dynasty, and Guan Tong in the north and Dong Yuan in the south doubled the pen and ink language of Dot Moss. However, in the Song and Yuan Dynasties, there was no systematic discussion and summary of Dot Moss, and the understanding of Dot Moss only included it in the ink system. The concept of "spot moss" appeared only after the Yuan Dynasty, so that some scholars mistakenly thought that it was the peak period of spot moss development after the Yuan Dynasty. As a symbol in the mountains and waters, the lack of its text can also reveal the development of schools and social tendencies at that time. Some scholars regard "spot moss" as a kind of "symbolic" language in painting. Semiotics originated from Saussure linguistics, and then different scholars defined it differently. If we regard spot moss as a symbol in the mountains and waters to explore the relationship between its theory and techniques, we need to clarify the development and definition of the symbol first, and then explore its role in the traditional mountains and waters of China with semiotics methodology.