{"id":1419,"date":"2025-01-15T15:06:06","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T15:06:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/?p=1419"},"modified":"2025-01-17T17:22:41","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T17:22:41","slug":"%e8%9b%87-she-enters-the-chinese-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/01\/15\/%e8%9b%87-she-enters-the-chinese-new-year\/","title":{"rendered":"\u86c7 \"She<\/i>\" enters the Chinese New Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you know that the year of the Snake (\u86c7 sh\u00e9) (1) will have 384 days? As we prepare to celebrate the new year that starts on 29 January, it's the perfect time to explore the significance behind this intriguing creature and some related fun facts.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Across cultures, the snake embodies a dual nature: on the one side, a powerful emblem of life and renewal as they shed skin to grow and renew themselves; on the other, a symbol of enigma and peril with their venomous bites and ability to camouflage.<\/p>\n

Symbol of fertility and eternity<\/h2>\n

The snake is seen as a symbol of fertility and eternal life in many cultures.<\/p>\n

In Chinese mythology, the creator of humanity \u5973\u5a32 (N\u01daw\u0101), is often depicted with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a serpent entwined with \u4f0f\u7fb2\u00a0 (F\u00fax\u012b), legendary creator of many elements of the Chinese civilisation. The intertwined forms of N\u01daw\u0101 and F\u00fax\u012b bear a striking resemblance to N\u0101ga couples, symbols of fertility found in Hindu and Buddhist traditions.<\/p>\n

In Western culture, the Ouroboros, an ancient symbol depicting a serpent devouring its own tail, also represents the eternal cycle of life, death and rebirth. Snakes in native North American cultures and the Vision Serpent in Maya mythology have all served as symbols of fertility or rebirth.<\/p>\n

Emblem of medicine and healing<\/h2>\n

The snake\u2019s healing power is known in different cultures dating back to antiquity, making it a universal emblem of medicine and healing.<\/p>\n

In Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, parts of the snake, such as its venom, fat and gallbladders, have long been used to treat ailments. Modern science is still uncovering the medicinal potential of snake venom<\/a>, which has led to life-saving treatments for conditions like \u00a0blood clots and high blood pressure<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In Western tradition, the healing power of snakes is embodied by Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine. His snake-entwined staff, known as the \u201cRod of Asclepius,\u201d remains a universal symbol of medicine, appearing on the World Health Organization's flag and emergency medical services\u2019 flags worldwide.<\/p>\n

One of Asclepius's daughters, Hygieia \u2014 whose name gives us the word \u201chygiene\u201d \u2014 is also depicted with a snake: the Bowl of Hygieia is a familiar symbol outside pharmacies across Europe.<\/p>\n

Incarnations of evil or embodiments of benevolence<\/h2>\n

While the snake\u2019s significant place in life and medicine is universal across cultures, its portrayal in literature is more varied.<\/p>\n

In Western cultures, the snake often appears as a figure of danger or temptation. For example, the Gorgons in Greek mythology, with their hair of serpents, showcase the snake\u2019s power to evoke fear and awe. In Milton\u2019s Paradise Lost, the Snake becomes the vessel for Satan\u2019s cunning as he tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, leading to humanity\u2019s fall.<\/p>\n

While the Chinese does recognise the snake\u2019s malignant side, as seen in well-known idioms that are used to describe people with malicious intentions like \u4f5b\u53e3\u86c7\u5fc3 (f\u00f3 k\u01d2u sh\u00e9 x\u012bn) or \u86c7\u874e\u5fc3\u80a0 (sh\u00e9 xi\u0113 x\u012bn ch\u00e1ng) (2), the Chinese culture also celebrates the snake\u2019s association with wisdom and protection. One of the most famous Chinese folklores, \"The Legend of the White Snake\" (\u767d\u86c7\u4f20, b\u00e1ish\u00e9 zhu\u00e0n), tells a timeless tale of love, loyalty, and sacrifice intertwined with themes of human and supernatural coexistence.<\/p>\n

In China, snakes are also known endearingly as \u5c0f\u9f99(xi\u01ceol\u00f3ng), or little dragons, as Chinese dragons are seen as a symbol of benevolence<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What does snake signify in your culture? Please tell us in comments below.<\/p>\n

The Year of the Snake in 2025<\/h2>\n

My number-loving friends have told me that the year 2025 is special because:<\/p>\n

$2025 = (1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9)^2 = 1^3+2^3+3^3+4^3+5^3+6^3+7^3+8^3+9^3$<\/p>\n

And more generally: $\\left(\\displaystyle\\sum_{k=1}^n{k}\\right)^2 = \\displaystyle\\sum_{k=1}^n{k^3}$, wow!<\/p>\n

And did you know that \u2026<\/p>\n

the Year of Snake is also numerically interesting because it will have 384 days. While the Chinese lunisolar year typically lasts 354 or 355 days, a leap month is added seven times every 19 years to align the lunar and solar cycles.<\/p>\n

Other interesting facts:<\/p>\n