▲ A snake-shaped New Year’s sculpture was installed at Gwangalli Beach in Suyeong District, Busan, on Dec. 31, 2024, to welcome the Eulsa Year of 2025, the Year of the Blue Snake. The sculpture, measuring 2 meters in height and 4 meters in length, features a cute, "hip" snake character wearing earmuffs and a scarf, diverging from the realistic style of the traditional twelve zodiac animals. Its body also serves as a functional bench. (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- "Even without legs, snakes can move," "A snake becomes a dragon after a thousand years," "When a snake crosses the wall, the household prospers."

 

These old sayings reflect the many beliefs and stories surrounding snakes in Korean culture. Though their long, sleek bodies and sinuous movements might not make them the most endearing creatures, snakes have long been part of human life.

 

Feared for their venomous nature, snakes are also revered for their ability to shed their skin and awaken from hibernation, symbolizing resilience and renewal. In the upcoming year of 2025, the Eulsa Year, the snake—associated with 'many faces'—takes center stage as one of the 12 zodiac animals.

 

▲ This photo, provided by the National Folk Museum of Korea, shows a painting of the snake deity. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

According to the Korean Folk Symbol Dictionary recently published by the National Folk Museum of Korea, the snake is the sixth zodiac animal, and the Eulsa Year symbolizes the year of the "blue snake." In terms of time, it represents 9 to 11 a.m.; direction, south-southeast; and month, the fourth lunar month.

 

The dictionary explains, "People born in the year of the snake are extremely busy, energetic, and impatient but are clear-cut and hold no grudges. They are wise and deeply associated with immortality, abundance, and fertility."

 

Snakes in Korean Literature and Folklore

Snakes have appeared in numerous historical texts and legends. The Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) tells of a large snake that prevented the burial of King Hyeokgeose and his queen after 61 years of his reign, underscoring the mythical significance of snakes.

 

Folk tales include stories like a magpie returning the favor after being saved from a snake, or a snake raised and fed rice that later saves its human caretaker’s life.

 

In Korean folk beliefs, snakes are often regarded as sacred beings. Former National Folk Museum Director Chun Jin-ki noted, "The snake's shedding process and emergence from hibernation were seen as acts of rebirth, symbolizing eternal life."

 

Their ability to lay about 10 eggs at a time made them symbols of vitality and prosperity. In Jeju, snakes were traditionally venerated as sacred beings, as documented in records stating, "If one encounters a snake, they offer wine in reverence and do not dare to drive it away or kill it."

 

▲ This photo, provided by the National Folk Museum of Korea, shows the rubbing of the zodiac snake statue. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Place names associated with snakes are abundant across Korea. A 2013 survey by the National Geographic Information Institute found 208 such locations nationwide, with 137 (approximately 65%) referencing the shape of a snake.

 

To celebrate the Eulsa Year, exhibitions highlight the cultural and symbolic significance of snakes.

 

The National Folk Museum’s Man-Sa-Hyeong-Tong (萬巳亨通) special exhibition showcases over 60 snake-related items, including daily utensils, ritual artifacts, and paintings. Visitors can view representations of the snake deity in red official robes, talismans featuring snake illustrations, books recounting snake-related myths, and snake-shaped masks.

 

Global artifacts on display include items like a necklace made from snake bones from Nepal and relics of the Aztec civilization, which regarded snakes as a link between heaven and earth.

 

Meanwhile, the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage is hosting Cheong-Sa-Jin (靑巳進), an exhibition in Seoul's Gallery La Mer through January 6. This event presents 50 traditional paintings, including dancheong (traditional decorative coloring), Buddhist art, and royal court artworks centered on the snake.

 

▲ The special exhibition "Man-Sa-Hyeong-Tong," highlighting snake-related culture, is on display at the Special Exhibition Hall of the National Folk Museum of Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

A reimagined painting of a folktale depicts a snake circling a pagoda, only to be caught by a nun, preventing it from becoming human. Out of remorse, the nun dedicates her life to caring for the snake.

 

Through these exhibitions, audiences can explore the enduring allure and multifaceted symbolism of the snake, a creature that bridges cultural imagination and human wisdom.

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]