The human-snake motif in early China (from Neolithic Age to Western Zhou) seen from the archaeolo... more The human-snake motif in early China (from Neolithic Age to Western Zhou) seen from the archaeological data contains two main types: anthropomorphic deity holding snake and half-human half-snake. The human-snake motif might mainly refl ect the scene of wizards holding snake to play magic at the occasions of sacrifi cial ceremonies. In order to communicate with deities and ancestors, the wizards tried to borrow or obtain the power of snakes. The half-human half-snake type includes two subtypes: human head with snake body and human body with snake-arms, both of which suggest that the wizards absorbed the snake’s power into themselves, and could help the wizards to cross the boundary of life and death in sacrifi cial ceremonies.
The human-snake motif in early China (from Neolithic Age to Western Zhou) seen from the archaeolo... more The human-snake motif in early China (from Neolithic Age to Western Zhou) seen from the archaeological data contains two main types: anthropomorphic deity holding snake and half-human half-snake. The human-snake motif might mainly refl ect the scene of wizards holding snake to play magic at the occasions of sacrifi cial ceremonies. In order to communicate with deities and ancestors, the wizards tried to borrow or obtain the power of snakes. The half-human half-snake type includes two subtypes: human head with snake body and human body with snake-arms, both of which suggest that the wizards absorbed the snake’s power into themselves, and could help the wizards to cross the boundary of life and death in sacrifi cial ceremonies.
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The human-snake motif might mainly refl ect the scene of wizards holding snake to play magic at the occasions of sacrifi cial ceremonies. In order to communicate with deities and ancestors, the wizards tried to borrow or obtain the power of snakes. The half-human half-snake type includes two subtypes: human head with snake body and human body with snake-arms, both of which suggest that the wizards absorbed the snake’s power into themselves, and could help the wizards to cross the boundary of life and death in sacrifi cial ceremonies.
The human-snake motif might mainly refl ect the scene of wizards holding snake to play magic at the occasions of sacrifi cial ceremonies. In order to communicate with deities and ancestors, the wizards tried to borrow or obtain the power of snakes. The half-human half-snake type includes two subtypes: human head with snake body and human body with snake-arms, both of which suggest that the wizards absorbed the snake’s power into themselves, and could help the wizards to cross the boundary of life and death in sacrifi cial ceremonies.