Special Exhibition

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Title

The Snake with a Thousand Faces

Period

18 Dec 2024 (Wed) – 3 Mar 2025 (Mon)

Venue

Special Exhibition Hall 2

Title: The Snake with a Thousand Faces

Period: 18 Dec 2024 (Wed) – 3 Mar 2025 (Mon)

Venue: Special Exhibition Hall 2

Exhibition Contents: The complex perceptions of snakes in the folklore and cultures around the world

Composition
Part 1. The wise snake
Part 2. The frightening snake
Part 3. The sacred snake

Exhibition Overview

Koreans believe that people born in the Year of the Snake are smart because the snake is seen as a symbol of wisdom in the Twelve Zodiac Animals. However, stories about snakes often portray them as scary. Their appearance, the aggressive behavior of some, and their deadly venom make people afraid of them. Because of this, snakes are sometimes depicted as creatures that follow higher powers and punish wrongdoers.
Humans are afraid of snakes, yet at the same time, they view them as sacred. People have been amazed by their survival skills, such as shedding their skin to grow and disappearing in winter, only to return in spring. Because of these traits, snakes were seen as creatures capable of moving between different worlds and even bringing peace and prosperity to humans.
In this way, snakes have coexisted with us as creatures that are both scary and fair, ugly yet amazing, and familiar yet sacred. This exhibition was organized to explore how humans have lived alongside snakes in celebration of the Year of the Snake. Beyond the complex human emotions that have given snakes a thousand faces, we wish for the Year of the Snake to be a year of success and fulfillment.

Part 1 The wise snake

The year 2025 is the Year of the Snake. As Koreans welcome the new year, we often associate our fortune with the Twelve Zodiac Animals. The concept of the Twelve Zodiac Animals is commonly used to discuss our fate and characteristics. For example, people born in the Year of the Snake are believed to be intelligent, which aligns with the snake’s symbol of wisdom.
The Twelve Zodiac Animals were introduced to Korea during the Unified Silla period, spreading through the custom of carving twelve animal statues on the tombs of the ruling class. This concept, representing direction and time, gradually reached the common people and began to be applied in everyday items like clocks and compasses. So, how did the snake, symbolizing the south-southeast direction and the hours from 9 to 11 in the morning, come to appear in our daily lives.

Part 2 The frightening snake

Humans have always felt fear when facing snakes. Their sharp eyes, flicking tongues, pointed teeth, and quick, sneaky movements made people scared just by looking at them. Stories of people being harmed by snake bites, along with other frightening tales passed down through generations, intensified this fear. The snakes' appearance and the harm they can cause made them even scarier, turning them into symbols of fear. Meanwhile, in stories from different cultures, snakes also appear as creatures that warn or punish those who are foolish or greedy.
To avoid them, humans used special objects or magic to keep snakes away, and even created tools to catch them. Human wisdom to overcome the fear of snakes was essential wherever snakes were found in the world.

Part 3 The sacred snake

Snakes were not only feared but also considered sacred. Watching snakes move between the ground and underground, people believed they were mysterious creatures capable of traveling between this world and the afterlife. Humans created tools that resembled snakes or featured snake images and used them in ceremonies to connect with the gods.
With their ability to shed skin and grow, move smoothly across various terrains, and lay many eggs at once, snakes became symbols of vitality and abundance. This vitality became the focus of belief, bringing good fortune and stability. Snakes became gods of water who brought rain for good crops, gods of protection for families or villages, and even gods of creation who made the world. We hope this exhibition helps you understand the complex feelings humans had toward snakes.

Materials

	The sixth snake god among the Twelve Zodiac Animal Deities protecting the land 1977 It is a painting hung in the south-southeast direction, the direction of the snake, to ward off evil during a Buddhist ceremony. The Snake God Sanjera Daejang is described as the A valokiteśvara Bodhisattva in Buddhism. The Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva helps people by bringing them wisdom and teaching them how to live the right way.
	Second half of the 20th century A gourd dipper Early 20th century It was carried on long journeys and used for drinking water or alcohol. The outside of the gourd is carved with designs of plum trees and birds, and a snake is shaped into a ring. Water and snakes are believed to have the power to drive away bad energy and bring life, which is why they are used as decorations on everyday items.
	The Ten Kings who rule the underworld 19th century The painting depicts the Ten Kings, who judge the sins of the dead in the afterlife, with sinners suffering in hell after their judgment. The scene of the Sixth King, Byeonseong, shows Poisonous Snake Hell. This painting of the Ten Kings conveys a moral lesson, encouraging people to live a virtuous life in the present.
	A scented pendant 19th century~Early 20th century It is an accessory that women wore to decorate themselves, usually attached to the jacket or waistband of a hanbok. It contains musk in a small pouch made of metal or jade. Musk was believed to drive away snakes and was also used as an emergency medicine.
	A tool for catching snakes Second half of the 20th century A gourd dipper It is a tool used by snake catchers to capture snakes. Some have a claw shape, while others function like a trigger. According to the , it is illegal to catch snakes that are protected by law.
	Chickenchata 20th century India It is a tool used for scooping and pouring oil into lamps during Hindu Puja rituals. Its handle is shaped like a snake’s head, symbolizing infinity and eternity in Hinduism. Puja is a religious ceremony in which blessings are sought from God, with the hope of good fortune in this life and the next, ultimately aiming for liberation.
	Maha Kora Mask 20th century Sri Lanka The Maha Kola mask of Sri Lanka is used in a demon dance called Sanni Yakuma and represents the leader of 18 illness-causing demons. The Maha Kola holds the victim of the disease in his hands and is used in healing rituals, during which the priest calms and drives away disease demons, including the snake engraved on the mask. The ritual is meant to purify the area and prevent bad influences.
	Baga Serpent sculpture 20th century African Guinea It is a sculpture of a Snake God from the Baga people of Guinea, Africa. It was used as a sacred object of worship in the home. The snake’s coiled tail, wrapping around an animal, symbolizes the snake’s vitality.

Date

2024-12-18

List

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