楚文化中的蛇崇拜

Ophiolatry in Chu Culture

蛇崇拜是楚文化的重要内容之一,楚文化中的文献记载和出土文物有很多有关蛇的资料。楚文化中的蛇崇拜具有以下特色:楚人先祖与蛇有着密切的关系;蛇为冥神——保护神;蛇为邪祟——破坏者;蛇与鸟——死与生。蛇在楚文化系统中散发出独具魅力的风采,也让我们对楚先民的智慧产生了由衷的敬意。

Ophiolatry, one of the important elements of Chu culture, appeared in many documentary records and unearthed relics in Chu culture. Ophiolatry canbe featured as following： the ancestors of Chuese have close re- lationship with snakes, snakes have been regarded as dead gods and guardian saint, as well as baal and destructor and could refer to the dead in contradiction to birds the living. With unique features in Chu culture, snakes a- rouse our sincere respect on our Chu ancestors＇ wisdom.