For example, there is a bronze sword from the state with its handle in the shape of a snake’s head which opens its mouth from the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24). The snake’s head is made vividly so that peoplecan feel frightened. “The snake on the weapon may serve as a symbol of people’s wish of a ‘lethal strike’ with the sword by mimicking the venom of a real snake,” says Fan.

In the Han Dynasty, snakes also appeared often on patterns of xuanwu, a Chinese mythical creature that’s depicted as a snake and a tortoise. In the following dynasties, snake appeared less in cultural relics but was still seen as one of the 12 animals in Chinese zodiac and appeared in artifacts themed on it.

Living on the earth for more than 100 million years, the snake has never been away from Chinese people’s culture and life. “Evolving from the Neolithic era, they were revered as divine motifs, served as intermediaries between humans and gods, and eventually became a zodiac symbol for the common folk. The cultural significance associated with snakes has grown increasingly rich, persisting into the modern times,” says Wang.

Contact the writer at wangru1@chinadaily.com.cn