In 2025, the year is Yi Si and the zodiac sign is Snake.
Snake culture has accompanied the origin and development of human history and civilization, and has spread all over the world with its dazzling and brilliant cultural aspects. In the long-standing Chinese culture, snakes have rich cultural connotations and diverse symbolic meanings. The Palace Museum, Shanghai Museum, Tokyo National Museum, Japan, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA, have launched cultural relics exhibitions themed on the Year of the Snake to tell the role of snakes in Chinese culture.
"The Paper·Ancient Art" has specially compiled various snake-themed cultural relics from various dynasties hidden in museums to convey the beautiful and festive meaning of the New Year.
Snakes, as a type of animal that is fast-moving and good at crawling, symbolize good luck, wealth, longevity, and rebirth. Whether it is the creation myths, totem worship, and sacrificial activities of early ancestors, or the palace murals, novels, and operas in later societies, the colorful snake culture tells the deep beliefs and collective cultural memory of the Chinese nation.
The snake ranks sixth among the twelve zodiac signs and is associated with the "Si" in the twelve Earthly Branches. The character "Si" is rich in connotation. It is recorded in "Shuowen Jiezi": "Si. In April, the yang energy has come out, the yin energy has hidden, all things are visible, and everything becomes an article. Therefore, Si is a snake, a pictograph. All things related to Si are derived from Si." The character "Si" here symbolizes the cyclical alternation and transformation of yin and yang in nature, and is also an image expression of the snake's implication of transformation, renewal, longevity and eternal life.
Creation figures represented by Fuxi, Nuwa, and Pangu are all closely related to "snakes". For example, "Records of the Grand Historian: Supplement to the Annals of the Three Sovereigns" says of Fuxi: "He has a snake body and a human head, and is a saint." "Chu Ci Zhangju" says of Nuwa: "He has a human head and a snake body, and changes seventy times a day. His body is like this. Who made it and drew it?" "Classic of Mountains and Seas: Great Wilderness North Classic" records Kuafu: "In the wilderness, there is a mountain called Chengdu Zaitian. There is a man with two yellow snakes on his ears, holding two yellow snakes, and his name is Kuafu." The snake and the creation figures of ancient times merged into one, and the supreme spiritual connotation of the ancestral culture was constructed in the cultural confluence of humans and snakes, and humans and gods, opening the context for the birth and development of Chinese civilization.
Bronze tripod, Shang Dynasty, late 14th century. Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Snake pattern is a kind of decoration on bronze ware. It has a triangular or round triangular head, a pair of protruding large round eyes, a scaly body, and a curled long strip shape. The characteristics of a snake are very obvious. The decoration is often very small. Some people think it is silkworm pattern. Some of them are used as the main pattern and can be seen on bronze ware from the Shang Dynasty.
Spring and Autumn Bronze Bell with Two Snake Patterns, Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei
The Spring and Autumn Period bell with two snakes in the collection of the National Palace Museum in Taipei is 51.0 cm wide and 93.8 cm high. The bell is oval, conical, and has a bridge-shaped mouth. The dance part is decorated with interlaced snakes, and the seal part is decorated with two snakes.
Early and middle period of the Warring States Period, jade hollow snake pattern ornament, collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei
The entire "Jade Hollow Snake Ornament" from the early and middle Warring States period has been bleached by corrosion and is now brown in varying shades. The main pattern is a double-bodied snake pattern, with a single-sided pattern and a plain back.
Jade dragon and snake pendant from the early and middle Warring States period, collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei
The "Jade Dragon Snake Pendant" from the early and middle Warring States period is 7.6 cm long and made of green jade. Parts of it have been bleached due to corrosion. In response to the shape of the jade material, a secondary snake motif was added to the side of the main dragon motif, which was a common design form during this period.
Han Dynasty Double Snake Pattern Square Brick Collection of the Palace Museum
Snake mesh bronze vessel, Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 8 AD), unearthed from Tomb 51 of the Lijiashan site in Yuxi, Yunnan in 1992, collected by Yunnan Lijiashan Bronze Museum
The Western Han Dynasty snake net bronze vessel in the collection of Yunnan Lijiashan Bronze Museum has a unique shape. The vessel is in the shape of a round net bag, with a snake running through it, like the rope of the net bag. The snake head is raised and bulging, with a wide mouth and sharp serrations; the neck is curved front and back, with diamond-shaped scales, the belly is flat, with horizontal scales, and a ridge on the midline of the back; the rear end of the snake tail is wrapped in relief on the round-mouthed qióng (the hole for installing the handle). This vessel is extremely rare in the Yunnan culture cemetery and is only found in the Lijiashan cemetery in Jiangchuan. Its purpose is still unclear. Some scholars believe that it is a salvage device used in paddy fields or water; some scholars believe that this vessel was placed in long weapons and ceremonial vessels in large male tombs, or it was a dedicated ceremonial vessel.
Gilded snake-head bronze sword handle, Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 8 AD), unearthed from Tomb 68 of the Lijiashan site in Yuxi, Yunnan in 1992, collected by Yunnan Lijiashan Bronze Museum
The "Gilded Snake Head Bronze Sword Handle" is also in the collection of Yunnan Lijiashan Bronze Museum. The sword handle is cast in the shape of a three-dimensional snake head, hollow inside, and gilded all over. The snake opens its mouth and exposes its teeth, its neck is curved, and there are diamond-shaped scales on the back and horizontal scales on the belly. Behind the snake head is a straight sword guard, and the sword body is lost.
There are more than 20 kinds of bronze weapons in the Dian Kingdom. Although the daggers, spears, swords, hatchets, axes, and halberds are found in the Central Plains, their shapes and decorations are quite different, and they are obviously made in Yunnan. Another part of the weapons are not seen in the mainland of my country and the neighboring areas of Yunnan. Most of them are "bionic" weapons made by imitating certain parts of animals. This type of weapon has a novel concept and exquisite workmanship, and is a model of the high combination of art and practical functions in the bronzes of the Dian Kingdom.
The creation figures represented by Fuxi, Nuwa and Pangu are all closely related to "snake".
Eastern Han Dynasty Queen Mother of the West Fuxi and Nuwa Stone Portraits Collection of Shandong Museum
Stone rubbing of the portrait of "Fuxi and Nuwa holding the sun and the moon" Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) stone carving Modern rubbing Collection of Shanghai Museum
The rubbing of the "Fuxi and Nuwa holding the sun and the moon" stone relief in the Shanghai Museum is a rubbing from the stone relief on the back of the No. 1 stone coffin in the cliff tomb of Baozi Mountain in Xinjin County, Sichuan Province. Fuxi holds the sun in one hand and Nuwa holds the moon in the other. They both have human heads and snake bodies, each holding a scarf with their tails intertwined, forming a symmetrical composition. Usually there is a golden crow in the sun and a toad in the moon. According to archaeological discoveries and handed down cultural relics, this type of image was once widely popular in the Han Dynasty, and is often seen in tombs and stone towers in Henan, Sichuan, Chongqing, Shandong, Shaanxi and other places.
Fuxi and Nuwa are the ancestors and protectors of mankind in mythology, and are also the personification of snake totem worship. This portrait is a yin-yang pair, with the sun and the moon in harmony, symbolizing the nurturing of all things and the guidance of immortality, reflecting the belief of the ancestors in the reproduction of offspring and the ascension to heaven.
Tang Dynasty linen painting "Fuxi and Nuwa" unearthed from the Astana ancient tombs in Turpan in 1966, collected by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum
Tang Dynasty Fuxi and Nuwa Statue Silk, color, vertical left 222.5 cm, right 231 cm, horizontal top 115 cm, bottom 94 cm
Fuxi and Nuwa gave birth to human beings and taught the ancestors to tie ropes to make nets and engage in fishing and hunting. This silk painting shows Fuxi holding a ruler and Nuwa holding a compass. The upper bodies of Fuxi and Nuwa are human, and their snake bodies are intertwined under their skirts. The sun is painted on the top, the moon is painted on the bottom, and various stars are painted around them. This kind of image is often found in the Tang Dynasty tombs of Astana, Turpan, Xinjiang, and may be related to the burial customs of this area.
Tang Dynasty Fuxi and Nuwa Statue Silk, color, 199.6 cm from the left, 175 cm from the right, 82 cm from the top, 53.7 cm from the bottom. Turpan Relics
This painting depicts a man and a woman with human heads and snake bodies. Both are wearing Han costumes with large sleeves and skirts. They are connected at the waist and wear a white skirt with cloud patterns on the corners. The man is on the left, with a slight beard and a high bun. He holds a ruler in his left hand and a scissors-like object in his right hand, which he places on the woman's shoulder. The woman is on the right, with a high bun. She holds a ruler in her right hand and a scissors-like object in her left hand, which she places on the man's shoulder. The man and woman embrace each other with their upper bodies and their lower tails intertwined in two sections to form a spiral. There is a round wheel on their heads, which is damaged and blurred. There are circles around it, connected by lines to symbolize the sun. There is a crescent moon under their tails, with a jade rabbit inside, and circles around it connected by lines to symbolize the moon. There are circles of equal size all around the picture, connected by lines to symbolize the stars.
Snake ranks sixth among the twelve zodiac signs, and is paired with "Si" in the twelve earthly branches. The word "Si" has rich connotations. "Shuowen Jiezi" records: "Si. In April, the yang energy has emerged, the yin energy has hidden, all things are visible, and everything is formed. Therefore, Si is a snake, a pictograph.
The Palace Museum has a Tang Dynasty "Twelve Zodiac Snake Figurines in Painted Pottery" with a snake head and a human body. The snake's head is flat and oval, with slightly convex eyebrow arches, oval eye sockets, round eyeballs, and black paint. The chin and neck are painted light brown, and the neck is painted brown. Wearing a round-necked, narrow-sleeved robe, a belt around the waist, a bulging belly, a long robe and boots, standing upright on a square base with his hands folded. The twelve zodiac figurines are usually placed with the rat on top, in the north, and the horse on the bottom, in the south. They are arranged clockwise, with the snake before the horse, in the south-east, so the snake figurine should be placed in the southeast.
Song Dynasty Tri-color Snake Figurines of the Twelve Zodiac Signs, Collection of the Palace Museum
The zodiac figurines with animal heads and human bodies were popular in the Tang Dynasty. In the Five Dynasties and the Song Dynasty, the human-supporting-animal shape evolved. It not only preserves the complete image of humans, but also retains the meaning of the zodiac. Humans and animals have the best of both worlds and coexist harmoniously. This tri-color figurine wears a flat crown, an oval face, a cross-collared, right-fronted, wide-sleeved robe, a belt around the waist, a skirt, and shoes, standing upright on a square board. Both hands hold a coiled snake to indicate the zodiac attribute.
Song Dynasty three-color double-headed snake-body figurine, collection of the Palace Museum
In ancient Chinese mythology, many gods are in the form of a combination of a human head and a snake body, the most typical examples being Fuxi and Nuwa. According to archaeological discoveries, at least in the Northern Dynasties, a type of double-headed snake-body figurine began to appear in tombs, reaching its peak during the Sui and Tang dynasties. The figure still retained the chest and hands, and was mostly found in the north. After the Five Dynasties, the upper body of the human figure gradually omitted, and the lower body began to show a entangled posture. In the Song Dynasty, more were found in the Sichuan Basin in the Yangtze River Basin and other areas. The naming and function of the double-headed snake-body figurine are relatively complicated, and the academic community has not yet reached a consensus.
Pottery figurine of a zodiac snake, Jin to Yuan dynasty, 13th century, from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
A ceramic zodiac snake figurine from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Ming Dynasty jade snake-shaped pendant, collection of the Palace Museum
The Ming Dynasty "Jade Snake Pendant" in the Palace Museum is carved with a small snake coiling, with a forked tongue carved out of its mouth, and the eye and abdomen patterns are represented by incised lines, which is both concise and accurate. Among the jade works handed down from generation to generation, the subject of snakes is relatively rare, and this work can extract its clever and cute side, which is undoubtedly a very successful attempt.
Ming Gilded Bronze Basalt Collection of Hubei Provincial Museum
Among the four ancient gods, Xuanwu is a combination of a turtle and a snake, which originated from the ancient totem worship of turtles and snakes. It is said that the totem symbol of the Zhuanxu nation is a combination of the symbols of the turtle and the snake. The combination of Tianyuan and Xuanxiao is its prototype. This combination reflects the cultural phenomenon of the combination of the turtle and the snake on the ground. The turtle symbolizes longevity, stability and wisdom, while the snake represents agility, wit and vitality. When the two are combined into Xuanwu, it not only integrates the advantages of both, but also is given new meanings, such as guarding and protecting, balance and harmony, status and power.
Ming Dynasty Gilded Bronze Figure of a Turtle and Snake, Collection of the Palace Museum
The Palace Museum has a Ming Dynasty "Gilded Bronze Turtle Snake Statue". The turtle has an extended neck, a raised back, carved textures, scaly limbs, an upturned tail, and a head that stands upright. The snake is coiled on the turtle, with its head facing downwards, and supported by a base. In the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the turtle and snake in the statues of Emperor Zhenwu were mostly in front of the body or at the feet, and were combined with the statue. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, they were mostly sculpted independently and placed in front of the statue of Emperor Zhenwu.
Qing Dynasty Jade Snake (Chinese Zodiac) Height 2.9 cm Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei
Qing Dynasty, Jade Snake (Chinese Zodiac), height 2.9 cm. Jade, bluish white. The snake is carved with a plain body, coiled in four circles, with its head raised upward. A horizontal hole is drilled between the first and second circles. This piece and eleven other animal-shaped objects form the twelve Chinese Zodiacs.
Jade snake from the Qing Dynasty, Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei
Jade snake, 5.1cm long, 2.5cm wide, 1.0cm high; wooden base 5.6cm long, 3.0cm wide, 1.8cm high, one of the twelve zodiac animals. The snake is coiled in three small circles and sticking out its tongue. With wooden base.
Qing Dynasty Jade Chinese Zodiac (Snake) Height 6.4 cm with base Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei
Jade seal with snake button, National Palace Museum, Taipei
Miscellaneous Coptis chinensis from the Qing Dynasty, Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei
The Qing Dynasty "Coptis Snake" is a medicinal material found in the Guizhou Provincial Chronicles. It has a yellowish-brown dried snake body with skin and bones visible from the cross-section. The whole body is coiled into a ring shape and is contained in a copper box, brocade bundle, or brocade box.
Qing Daoguang Miscellaneous Glass Flying Snake Hairpin Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei
Qing Dynasty Miscellaneous "Glass-Inlaid Flying Snake Hairpin", about 14.5 cm long. The plain metal hairpin has a winged beast on the head, a long-tailed snake head, a grinning mouth and baring teeth, which looks very scary. The surface of the beast is filled with red, blue, green and other colored glass, which contrasts with each other, showing a dazzling and disturbing beauty.
Jingdezhen kiln famille rose porcelain cup with the Legend of the White Snake, mid-Qing Dynasty, first half of the 19th century, from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Jingdezhen kiln famille rose porcelain cup with the Legend of the White Snake, mid-Qing Dynasty, first half of the 19th century, from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
19th century French gilded copper sunflower watch, 26.5 cm in height, 11 cm in bottom diameter, collection of the Palace Museum
This watch was made in France in the 19th century. A blooming sunflower stands in the hollow flower basket base. In the middle of the two layers of petals is a single-set double-hand watch. The dial is inlaid with a circle of faceted yellow-white glass. It flashes with the changing light and contrasts with the golden petals, which is very gorgeous. A small golden snake climbs up the green stem, which is very vivid.
White glaze snake ear porcelain trophy, late 19th century, made by the German Royal Berlin Porcelain Factory, Shanghai Museum collection
In ancient Greek mythology, snakes are often associated with Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and Asclepius, the god of medicine. Therefore, snake patterns symbolize knowledge and wisdom, as well as healing, death and rebirth. At the end of the 19th century, the Art Nouveau movement was popular in Europe, advocating the use of natural elements and focusing on the expression of beautiful and rhythmic lines. The smooth and dynamic snake curves not only show the elegance of the objects, but also integrate a variety of symbolic meanings and cultural connotations, adding mystery and artistic value to the works.
Snakes, as a highly spiritual animal, can jump and swim, bend and stretch, be wise and brave, full of strength, and are integrated into the Chinese people's ideas and material crystallization. They may be gods that regulate rain and drought and balance the climate in myths and legends; or intermediaries that transcend the boundaries of life and death and communicate with ancestors in sacrificial rituals; or the basic component of the dragon totem in totem worship; or the embodiment of gratitude, integrity and kindness in folk customs, etc. The spiritual pursuit and cultural connotations of snakes are reflected in ancient Chinese politics, religion, literature, folklore, art and other aspects. People use them to ward off evil, imply good luck, and pray for health.