Exhibition | Shanghai Museum "The Spirit of the Snake: Chinese New Year Exhibition"

In Chinese culture, the snake is known as the "little dragon" and is one of the prototypes of the dragon totem. It is able to move freely on land and in water without feet, and hibernates or sheds its skin to be reborn. These characteristics made the ancients revere and deify it. From oracle bone inscriptions to the records of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, to the images on bronze and stone carvings, the spirit of the snake is everywhere in early Chinese civilization. "The Spirit of the Snake" is a special exhibition held by the Shanghai Museum to welcome the Year of the Snake. The exhibition features 8 pieces from the museum's collection and 5 pieces on loan from the Lijiashan Bronze Museum in Yunnan and the Hubei Provincial Museum. These 13 (sets) of exquisite artifacts allow us to witness the evolution of the snake legend in Chinese civilization and feel the spiritual resonance of snake culture across mountains and seas, connecting all ethnic groups. Zodiac culture is an important element of Chinese New Year culture, and the snake is a symbol of agility, wisdom, and vitality. Shanghai, China Year of the Snake, the scales return to the east in spring.