Why are snakes included in the twelve beasts?

Why are snakes included in the twelve beasts?

The twelve zodiac animals are an important part of traditional Chinese culture. As the only animal without limbs, why is the snake among the twelve animals? This question has always aroused people's curiosity. This article will reveal the mystery of snakes in the Chinese zodiac from three perspectives: historical origins, cultural symbols and folklore, combined with hot topics and hot content in the past 10 days.

1. The historical origin of the zodiac snake

The formation of the twelve zodiac signs has gone through a long historical evolution. According to archaeological discoveries, the earliest records of the twelve zodiac signs can be traced back to the Qin Dynasty, and the image of the snake was already considered an important totem symbol along with dragons, tigers and other animals in the pre-Qin period.

2. The cultural symbolic meaning of snakes

In traditional Chinese culture, snakes have multiple symbolic meanings. These qualities may be important reasons for their selection into the twelve zodiac animals:

3. Explanations in folklore

There are many versions of the story circulating among the people about how snakes entered the Chinese zodiac:

1.The Jade Emperor’s Choice of Zodiac Signs: According to legend, when the Jade Emperor was choosing the twelve zodiac animals, the snake impressed the Jade Emperor with its wisdom and spirituality and gained the qualification to be selected.

2.Fuxi Nuwa said: In ancient mythology, Fuxi and Nuwa all had the head of a human and the body of a snake. As the ancestor of mankind, snakes naturally gained an important position.

3.theory of compatibility of earthly branches: Among the twelve earthly branches, Si hour (9-11 a.m.) coincides with the activity time of snakes, so snakes are associated with Si.

4. Relevant hot topics in the past 10 days

Combined with recent Internet hot spots, we find that the cultural discussion about snakes has heated up again:

5. Modern interpretation of the zodiac snake

In modern society, people’s understanding of the zodiac snake is more diverse:

1.positive traits: Wisdom, calmness, elegance, mystery

2.negative impression: Insidious and cunning (please note that this is a cultural bias)

3.scientific perspective: The important role of snakes in ecological balance

4.artistic expression: The evolution of snake images from traditional paintings to modern animation

Conclusion

The reason why the snake is ranked among the twelve zodiac signs is not only a continuation of ancient totem worship, but also a manifestation of the wisdom of traditional Chinese culture. From the awe of primitive society, to the practical considerations of farming civilization, to the diverse interpretations of modern society, the image of snakes has continued to enrich with the changes of the times. As recent hot discussions on the Internet show, the Chinese Zodiac Snake culture continues to gain new vitality.

By combing through historical documents, cultural symbols and folklore, we can understand the inevitability of the snake being selected into the Chinese zodiac. It not only represents the ancients’ observation and thinking of the natural world, but also contains the unique philosophical concepts and aesthetic tastes of the Chinese nation. In contemporary times, we should look at this special zodiac culture with a more scientific and inclusive attitude.