The Story of the Twelve Animals of the Korean Zodiac
Snake
영상
Scenario
# 1 Main title: Snake
# 2 The Snake is the sixth animal of the twelve zodiac animals. Snake Hours are from 9 o'clock to 11 o'clock in the morning. The Snake guards the direction south-southeast. Snake Month corresponds to the fourth month of the lunar calendar. Among the twelve zodiac animals, the Snake symbolizes wisdom and resurrection. This comes from the animal's nature; the Snake knows when to hibernate and periodically sheds its skin to regenerate.
# 3 The ecology of the snake: Snakes appeared 130 million years ago on earth. Its back and belly are regularly covered with narrow, long scales, which are skin to the snake. Due to their appearances, snakes had long been viewed as sly and manipulative. Many people find the sight of a snake with fierce eyes rapidly waving its forked tongue hideous. Note, however, that the snake's eyes can only see objects in very close distance, and the tongue is used to smell or collect odorcausing particles. With no limbs, the snake is sensitive to the vibration of the earth; when it wants to move forward, it bends its body to push the ground backward. Come spring when all living things rise, the hibernating snake wakes up and starts its activities.
# 4 The symbol of immortality and regeneration: Because the snake sheds its skin when it grows, people believed the animal represented immortality and regeneration. This vessel decorated with the snake, symbolizing immortality and regeneration, contains the wish of the ancient people to live forever. The vessels from the Silla dynasty carry such meanings: regeneration after winter hibernation, resurrection after shedding skin, and immortality from powerful vitality.
# 5 The Snake, the symbol of abundance and fertility: The legend of Bak Hyeokgeose, the founding monarch of the Silla dynasty. Breeding many eggs, the Snake was used as a symbol of abundance and fertility. Many legends include snakes to represent abundance and fertility. "Samgukyusa (三國遺事, the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms)" records that Bak Hyeokgeose, the founding king of the Silla dynasty, ascended to heaven after ruling the country for 62 years; within 7 days of his death, his body fell to earth and dispersed. When the people tried to bury the dispersed body, a large snake came after them to interfere. Thus, the body was divided into five parts, and each of the funerals was held. The sites were called Oreung or Sareung, literally meaning "five tombs" or "four tombs." The custom of burying the corpse divided into several parts meant praying for an abundant year, and a snake appeared as a creature to distribute abundance.
# 6 The Snake, the protector: Koreans in the old days regarded the Snake as the guardian god or protector. To fishermen, the snake was also revered in the house, treated as the god that brings good haul and peace to a family. Jeju Island has preserved well the folklore concerning snakes. The development of snake-related superstitions on Jeju Island was due to the warm climate suitable for snakes. One of the many earthenware jars containing food was revered as "Anchilseong" God; in the backyard, "Batchilseong," or god made of straws, was revered. In November of the lunar calendar, the Chinese character "snake (蛇)" was posted upside down at the main entrance to drive away evil spirits.
# 7 Various symbols of the Snake: Since ancient times, people have regarded the Snake as the guardian god. The fact that the snake took part in the creation of life was not limited to Eastern beliefs. In Greek mythology, the rod of Asclepius is entwined with a snake because the Greeks regarded snakes as sacred; thus, it was Asclepius’s messenger. A symbol of medicine today was made based on this legend. Perhaps due to such origin, the snake has been increasingly embraced by people lately. A club member says, "It’s not gross." A club operator says, "People these days often neglect their pets at home because they are too busy. But reptiles are clean and easier to manage."
# 8 Ending: Koreans appreciated abundance and wisdom as the merits of the Snake instead of focusing on its sly, evil image. As one of the twelve zodiac animals, the Snake was a guardian god that protected homes and villages and a sacred creature representing immortality, eternal life, and resurrection while being the object of abundance and fertility to which people prayed. Today, the snake is understood as a familiar animal, away from the image of fear and manipulation. Perhaps modern Koreans have carried on the spirit and wisdom of ancestors that viewed snakes as the symbol of wisdom and resurrection.
The Snake (巳) is the sixth animal of the twelve zodiac animals, cycling five times in the order of "Wood Snake (乙巳)," "Earth Snake (己巳)," "Water Snake (癸巳)," "Fire Snake (丁巳)," and "Metal Snake (辛巳)." Snake Hours are from 9 o'clock to 11 o'clock. The Snake guards the direction south-southeast. Snake Month corresponds to April. In modern days, reptiles are often treated as the subject of fear and regarded as an abomination; in folklores, however, it has long been revered as a godly creature, and many customs had been transmitted from early on. The snake is a hibernating animal. This cold-blooded animal lives very close to earth, and many species carry poison so it is feared. There is a certain systematic idea in superstitions that a snake grows to become a large serpent; when the serpent grows even bigger, it becomes a hornless dragon called "Imugi." If the Imugi earns the magic jewel Cintamani (如意珠) or gets a certain opportunity, then its status can be elevated to the dragon. The snake category includes the Imugi, serpent, and snake.
If you hear the word snake, what is the first thing that comes to mind? The long and creepy body twirls. The smooth, soundless motion leaves your feet cold. Its slippery skin might even feel wet. The long and poisonous fork-shaped tongue waves in mid-air. Then there is the chilling gaze about to devour a man alive. It was the snake that caused Adam and Even to be banished from the Garden of Eden. In Genesis, the snake is portrayed as a deceptive creature. A snake is rarely welcomed. Still, behind this aversion lie curiosity and interest. Because it hibernates, the snake vanishes; when it reemerges, it sheds its skin and grows. This made people in ancient times believe that the animal represented immortality, regeneration, and eternal life, and that it was the Earth God (地神) and a creature that guarded tombs to promote regeneration and eternal life of the dead. Breeding many eggs at a time, the Snake was also revered as the god of fertility, abundance, fortune, and happiness in a family. The Snake went through a cultural transformation, becoming the embodiment of birth, power of healing, wisdom and prophecy, undying vitality, and unrequited love. Such is due to cultural misunderstanding when symbolizing the snake in different cultural contexts.
The Snake is the god of healing. In Greek mythology, Asclepius, the son of the divine Apollo, was associated with healing, or the god of medicine. The staff he carried was entwined with a snake. The snake was part of the cult, and its shedding of skin and renewal were emphasized as symbolic of rejuvenation. The American Expert Field Medical Badge bears a cross entwined with two snakes, whereas a snake, representing the deity of healing, or the god of medicine, has been used as a symbol of the World Health Organization as well as pharmacies. Snakes are also used as medicine in Oriental medicine. Species like mamushi, Elaphe schrenckii, Gloydius saxatilis, and other poisonous snakes are used for oral intake. Snakes are known to have the effects of improving virility, lowering the blood pressure of patients with high blood pressure, and improving symptoms caused by overall weakness in the body. The snake's shed skin was an important ingredient in medicine. According to "the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty," the "Jiriji (the Geography Section)" of "the Annals of King Sejong," and Book Four of "Sallimgyeongje (Farm Management)," a snake's shed skin was used as a medicinal ingredient that can cure the sudden protrusion of the eyeball (睛脹), remove flies and maggots in all wounds, and treat convulsion (驚風) as well as when the placenta (胞衣) is not discharged.
