In both Western culture and Chinese culture, there is usually a negative view and bad impressions on snakes because they are cold-blooded and often poisonous. In ancient times, the snake was also called the little dragon.

Do you like Chinese mythology?

Do you know which zodiac animal you are?

I will be writing a series of stories where I will talk about the twelve different Chinese zodiac animals. I will share some of my observations and fun facts about my friends and family that are born in those years.

Recap:

Before adapting to the twenty-four-hour clock in western culture, in Ancient China, they used to divide a day into twelve periods. Each period is about two hours long and is named with the twelve earthly branches. When talking about the twelve zodiac animals, you will see the earthly branches written with the animals. Its purpose serves as a numerical number and also tells the time and date of the Lunar Calendar.

@mamasoyfeo / Pixabay

Snake 巳蛇 (sìshé)

Snake is the sixth animal in the twelve zodiacs, coming in sixth place at the race to the Heavenly Gate right behind the dragon.

Snake (shé) is associated with the sixth earthly branch (sì) which is from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Snakes go into hibernation in the winter and sleep for a long time. It is believed that they wake up and get out of their snake den on “the Dragon Head Raising Day”, which falls on the third day of the third month of the lunar calendar. That is roughly around mid-April on the Gregorian calendar.

@Leon Huang / Pexels

Despite all the negativity on snakes, there’s actually some positive traits too. Snake symbolizes wisdom, luck and pursuit of love and happiness. There is a famous romantic love story about a man and a beautiful woman that transforms from a white snake. A white snake became immortal with super powers and wanted to visit the mortal world to find her saviour from 500 years ago. A man saved her when she was still a little snake and she wanted to repay him. She transformed herself into a beautiful woman and married the reincarnation of that man. Later on, a monk called Fahai tried to separate the lovers and locked white snake inside Leifeng Pagoda. This legend is regarded as one of the Four Great Folktales in China.

This is one of my favourite movies about the White Snake.

People who are born in the Year of the Snake (2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, etc.) are known to be wise, creative, intelligent and intuitive.