Serpent:

SYMBOL OF DUALITY


Multifaceted symbolism: from temptation to wisdom, a humorous contrast across Western and Eastern landscapes.


Let's move beyond the conventional "Happy Chinese New Year." During this Spring Festival of the Year of the Snake, it's more intriguing to explore the contrast behind the serpent-an emblem of profound significance across cultures.



In Western culture, the serpent is often viewed through a dualistic lens. In ancient myth, particularly the Biblical story of Adam and Eve, it symbolizes temptation and sin.
Similarly, the myth of Medusa ties the serpent to themes of deception and danger. In contemporary contexts, the serpent's motifs persist in fashion design, often evoking the archetype of Femme Fatale- enigmatic, seductive, and frequently destructive.





Yet, the snake also embodies wisdom, healing, and rejuvenation. 
In Greek mythology, the serpent is central to the story of Asclepius, symbolizing medical knowledge as it coils around the god's staff of healing. This image of the serpent as a symbol of rebirth and transformation extends to the Roman goddess Salus, who represents the nurturing force of health and well-being.

Originating in the 17th and 18th centuries, Chinoiserie was a European fantasy of Chinese culture-shaped more by imagination than authenticity.



In contrast, Eastern culture, particularly in Chinese symbolism, views the snake more favorably.
As one of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, the snake is associated with intelligence, elegance, and privilege. Revered for its perceptiveness and grace, the snake is a symbol of "Little Dragon," a power second only to the dragon, the emperor's emblem.







Unlike Western realist traditions, which emphasize the lifelike portrayal of the serpent, traditional Chinese art refines the snake into abstract patterns.
Through this abstraction, the serpent's symbolic meaning is enriched, representing not only natural forces but also deeper cultural and philosophical dimensions.



The snake's symbolism in Chinese mythology is also tied to renewal and the flow of life energy. 

Its shedding of skin serves as a powerful metaphor for the release of the old and the embrace of the new, symbolizing an ongoing cycle of evolution and rebirth.








CREDITS



Photo 1
The Snake Charmer by Henri Rousseau
Oil Painting
167,0 x 189,5 cm
1907

Photo 2
The Fall of Man (Adam and Eve) by Albrecht Dürer
Engraving
25.1 x 20cm
1504

Photo 3 
Givenchy by Alexander McQueen, Spring 1998 Couture

Photo 4
Schiaparelli, Spring 2023 Couture 

Photo 5
Hygieia by Gustav Klimt
Ceiling Painting
430 x 300 cm
1907

Photo 6
T-shaped Painting on Silk, in Hunan Provincial Museum
205 x 92 x 47.7cm
Circa 168

Photo 7
General Zhenshuo in Coiled Snake Pattern Robe
Ming dynasty

Photo 8
Traditional Chinese Decorative Snake Pattern
Warring States Period

Photo 9
Snake Around A Tree by Gao Qifeng
Ink and colour on hanging scroll papel
131.8 x 45.9 cm


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2025 YEAR OF SNAKE