Snakes are the most tenacious of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals. People born in the Year of the Snake are considered to be the most mysterious and incredible among the twelve zodiac signs. Some Eastern people believe that snakes are treacherous, and their elusive nature causes fear. In fact, this is because snakes live a long life, and each time they shed their skin, they gain a new beginning. This special quality symbolizes the strong ability of people born in the Year of the Snake to regenerate, and you can quickly recover your energy after every battle. Traditionally, Chinese people believe that those born in spring or summer are the strongest, while those born in winter are relatively quiet and obedient, as winter is the hibernation season for snakes. Additionally, people born on good weather days are more optimistic and easier to satisfy than those born on bad weather days. The most beautiful women and the most powerful men are often born in the Year of the Snake. Therefore, if you are born in the Year of the Snake, you are sure to have good luck.
People often refer to snakes as "little dragons" to show respect. The skin shed by a snake is called "snakečś•" (snake molt), also known as "dragon clothes." In folk customs, March 3rd of the lunar calendar is the day when snakes end their hibernation and come out to move, also known as "Dragon Head-Raising Day." These all compare snakes to dragons. In fact, the dragon itself is an imaginary creature created by adding embellishments to the image of a snake. Dragons do not really exist; people can shape them as they wish, but snakes are seen by everyone, especially venomous snakes that can cause fatal injuries, which makes people's impressions of snakes very negative. If we say that the dragon is "the refined art of spring and snow," compared to it, the symbolic meaning of the snake, the prototype of the dragon, cannot even be considered "the common people's art."
The first symbolic meaning of snakes that people think of is their cruelty. Many people feel an inexplicable fear when they think of snakes. Once, a lady was fishing in a pond when she suddenly caught a small water snake, which frightened her so much that she screamed, dropped her fishing rod, and ran away. In fact, it was just a regular water snake, not a venomous one. So why do people fear snakes so much? Besides the snake's strange appearance, the main reason is the influence of myths and fables about venomous snakes. Venomous snakes only make up a tiny minority of the entire snake family, and very few people have been bitten by venomous snakes. However, stories about venomous snakes have already formed deep preconceived notions about snakes in people's minds. Most people haven't even seen a snake, or don't know what a snake is, but they already have a fear of snakes.
In these mythological stories, the fable "The Farmer and the Snake" is deeply rooted in people's hearts and is well-known. This fable is the most typical story about the cruelty of snakes. Snakes are not only venomous but also ungrateful. In other stories about snakes, there are many tales of snakes causing chaos and harming humans, which undoubtedly deepens people's negative impression of snakes.
The second symbolic meaning of snakes is cunning. This symbolism is a "foreign import," originating from the Bible. According to the Bible, the snake is the most cunning creature created by God, and it was due to its temptation that Eve and Adam ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge in Eden. As a result, Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden, and humanity acquired "original sin." To atone, humans must worship God and endure various hardships. The snake was also punished, forced to crawl on its belly, eat dust forever, and be enemies with humans.
The third symbolic meaning of snakes is unpredictability. Snakes have no legs but can still move, and they often appear and disappear without a trace, making them seem mysterious. This mystery leads to people's reverence for snakes. In ancient times, people were powerless against the dangers and threats posed by snakes. To appease the snakes and gain their favor, people regarded them as deities and worshipped them. From this mystery came various taboos. Various tribes across China have different snake-related taboos. For example, it is forbidden to say "snakes have no legs," fearing that snakes might actually grow legs and chase people. It is also forbidden to see snakes mating, to touch snakes with fingers, or to see snakes shedding their skin. In some places of Guizhou, there is a local saying, "If you see a snake shedding its skin, you will either die or lose your skin." In some areas of the Miao ethnic group, it is taboo to see a snake passing ahead during the wedding procession. In some parts of Anhui, people who dream of snakes believe it is a sign of being schemed against. Many people avoid seeing a snake's "foot," let alone seeing a "two-headed snake," which is considered an omen of misfortune. It is said that Sun Shuao, a famous statesman of the State of Chu during the Warring States period, once saw a two-headed snake as a child. Although this was not a good omen, Sun Shuao killed and buried the snake to prevent others from encountering it and suffering. Unexpectedly, this act brought him good fortune, and he later became a renowned statesman of the State of Chu. In short, there are many taboos related to the mystery of snakes, and some of these taboos still persist today.
The fourth symbolic meaning of snakes is slyness and coldness. This is likely related to the fact that snakes are considered "cold-blooded animals," so they are associated with coldness. In addition, snakes lack vocal cords and cannot make sounds, which further enhances their cold impression. Women who are beautiful on the outside but cruel and treacherous inside are referred to as "beautiful snakes." In certain literary works related to crime and espionage, the image of a "beautiful snake" often appears.
Actually, looking at it from another angle, "cunning" can also be seen as a synonym for intelligence, wisdom, and cleverness. It is inaccurate to describe the behavior of snakes as "cunning." At the beginning, God created Adam and Eve, but did not give them wisdom or strength. They lived in the Garden of Eden naked, without even the basic sense of shame, spending their days idly, eating fruits from trees whenever they were hungry. It was only through the guidance of the snake that the ancestors of mankind escaped the ignorant state of having no wisdom. After eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge, Adam and Eve did not die but their eyes were opened, they gained wisdom, and they could now feel shame, so they used leaves from the fig tree to make skirts to cover themselves. After being expelled from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve truly began human labor and reproduction, leading to the present-day human civilization. But when will the punishment of the snake ever end?
Whether in Chinese culture or Western culture, the main symbolic meanings of snakes are negative. However, this is not entirely true. Snakes also have positive symbolic meanings.
The first positive symbolic meaning of snakes is medicine and the medical profession. In Chinese folk beliefs, snakes have the ability to identify medicinal herbs.
The second positive symbolic meaning of snakes is longevity, reproduction, and wealth. In Chinese culture, snakes and turtles are symbols of longevity. Practitioners of yoga believe that snakes can live for 500 years, and there is a force within the human body that coils around like a snake, known as "serpent power." As long as one practices correctly, this power can be released. Snakes are also symbols of wealth. Snakes have their own underground kingdom filled with countless treasures, so those who want to become rich must go to a snake temple and pray sincerely.
The third positive symbolic meaning of snakes is the pursuit of love and happiness. This meaning is mainly reflected in the traditional folk tale "The Legend of the White Snake."
The fourth positive symbolic meaning of snakes is luck, auspiciousness, and holiness. People divide snakes into house snakes and wild snakes. In some places, it is considered a good omen to have a house snake. Abroad, the ancient Egyptians believed that snakes were protectors of kings. Pharaohs carved the image of a cobra made of gold and gems and adorned their crowns with it, using it as a symbol of royal authority. In ancient European countries, envoys carved the image of two snakes on their staffs, representing their diplomatic authority, which was a special staff used exclusively by envoys in international relations. Thus, snakes became symbols of the nation and authority.
