Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Xiaoting and Yu Xiaosu

In the interaction between humans and nature, snakes have always been feared animals. In traditional Chinese culture, why has the snake become a symbol of wisdom, agility and vitality? How did the ancient ancestors give birth to the worship and belief in snakes?

"When it comes to snake worship, the ancient Ba people are an unavoidable branch." Du Zhiming, a research librarian at the China Three Gorges Museum in Chongqing, said. Chongqing was known as "Ba" in ancient times, and the "Shuowen Jiezi" recorded that the word "Ba" is a pictograph, like a coiled snake, which is opening its mouth to swallow things.

Why did the ancient ancestors, especially the Ba people, worship snakes?

In ancient times, Chongqing had a warm and humid climate, dense water network, and dense forests and mountains, which were very suitable for the survival and reproduction of snakes. In the long-term companionship of humans and snakes, human beings not only saw the danger of snakes, but also discovered the strength and beauty of snakes.

"The interaction between the ancients and the snake gradually endowed the snake with divinity, and then gave birth to the worship and belief of the snake." Du Zhiming said that the Ba people worship the white tiger and the snake, and the figure of the "snake" can be seen in many unearthed cultural relics. The Warring States serpentine copper belt hook and the serpentine jade-inlaid copper belt hook unearthed in Xiaotianxi, Fuling, Chongqing are an example.

Take a closer look at this Warring States snake-shaped copper belt hook, the head of the snake is hooked, the hook body is coiled, S-shaped, and the whole is delicate and small. "The belt hook is the hook of the belt worn by the ancients, which often has a certain arc and fits the waist and abdomen of the human body." Du Zhiming said that as one of the burial objects, it is an important symbol of the rank and status of the deceased. "We found that 30% to 0% of the hooks unearthed in Chongqing are related to snakes."

In the museum, a gray pottery snake tomb figurine of the Eastern Han Dynasty has a special image, its tongue sticks out, wearing a right shirt, a snake in the left hand, a snake tail curled, and an axe in the right hand. Du Zhiming said that the town tomb figurines are used to protect the tombs of the dead, and many such snake-shaped town tomb figurines have been unearthed in the Bashu area, which also confirms the awe of the ancestors of Bashu to snakes from one side.

How did the snake become a symbol of Furui's auspiciousness?

Looking back at history, the ancients not only put snake patterns on accessories and utensils, but also combined snakes with people or other animals to become gods. Fuxi Nuwa, the ancestor of Chinese humanities, is widely spread with the image of a human head and a snake body. "The image of the human head and snake body Fuxi Nuwa is not only a symbol of the unity of the powerful power of the human snake, but also a reflection of the fertility worship. It shows people's good wishes for more children and more blessings, and people are prosperous. Du Zhiming said.

"The snake and the turtle are in the same frame as Xuanwu." Du Zhiming said that Xuanwu, along with the green dragon, the white tiger and the vermilion bird, is the "four spirits" in traditional Chinese culture and is the guardian saint of the north.

Why is Xuanwu a combination of a turtle and a snake? Du Zhiming said that there is currently an explanation that the turtle and the snake are the totems of the two tribes, and after the tribes merge, they become the totems of the unity of the turtle and snake. "The image of the turtle and snake as one symbolizes longevity, stability and wisdom."

From totem worship, fertility worship, to the symbol of imperial power, and then to the transformation of the human form, the cultural connotation of the snake image is more and more abundant, and it also creates conditions for the formation of the snake zodiac. The snake is the sixth in the Chinese zodiac, and the earthly branch is the si.

Du Zhiming introduced that the folk commonly known as the "snake" is the "little dragon", and the spirit, auspiciousness and wealth of the snake are also widely spread in the folk tales, reflecting the philosophical concept of harmonious coexistence between man and nature in ancient times. "In order to allow the audience to better feel the snake culture from ancient times to the present, the museum has specially arranged a 'viewing platform' in the exhibition hall, and the audience can listen to the legendary story of Xu Xian and the White Snake while appreciating the cultural relics." ”