The Snake's Place in the Great Zodiac Race

Patience instead of speed

In the folk tale of the Great Race, every animal needed a plan to cross the river to the Jade Emperor. The Snake's plan was simple and quiet. It wrapped itself around one of the Horse's hooves and let the strong Horse carry it through the water. The Horse never noticed.

The perfect moment

As the Horse galloped toward the finish, the Snake waited. Right at the end, it uncoiled and darted out in front. The startled Horse jumped back, and the Snake slipped into sixth place, one step ahead of its surprised carrier. The Horse's side of the story is in The Horse in the Zodiac.

Was it fair?

Storytellers like to leave this question with the listener. The Snake did not push anyone into the river, as the Rat did to the Cat, but it did use the Horse without asking. Some see clever strategy; others see a lesson about watching who travels with you. Either way, the tale fits the Snake's traditional image: calm, observant and very good at timing.

The little dragon

The Snake sits right after the Dragon in the zodiac, and the two are closely linked. Professor Xiaohuan Zhao of the University of Sydney notes that snakes are regarded as "little dragons", and that a snake's shed skin is sometimes called the dragon's coat, linked to good luck, rebirth and regality. Professor Cai Zongqi of Lingnan University describes the snake as an early part of the dragon totem itself.

The snake also stands for wealth and wisdom, and together with the turtle and the crane it is a traditional symbol of long life. In ancient mythology the ancestral figures Fuxi and Nuwa are often shown with human heads and snake bodies, their tails intertwined as a sign of unity and harmony. The famous folk tale The Legend of the White Snake adds love and courage to the snake's story.

What this means for the Snake sign

Our Year of the Snake guide describes the sign as wise, intuitive and elegant: deep thinkers who plan carefully before acting. The race is that description in action. Traditional readings also mention the Snake's weak side, being secretive or overthinking, which is exactly what the Horse experienced on its hoof.

The Snake in Cambodia

In the Khmer zodiac, the Snake year is called Msanh. It follows the same order and begins at Khmer New Year in April; see Khmer animal years.

Born in the Year of the Snake? Find your zodiac animal and element and read the full Snake guide.

Frequently asked questions

How did the Snake get sixth place?

In the folk tale, it rode across the river wrapped around the Horse's hoof and darted ahead at the finish.

Why is the snake called the little dragon?

Snakes are traditionally seen as smaller relatives of the dragon, and their shed skin is sometimes called the dragon's coat.

What does the snake symbolise in Chinese culture?

Wisdom, renewal, wealth and long life, as well as love in The Legend of the White Snake.

Sources and further reading

• Wikipedia: Chinese zodiac — the Great Race folk tale and its variants, and the link between the animals and the Earthly Branches.
• University of Sydney: Lunar New Year 2025: what does Year of the Snake mean? — Professor Xiaohuan Zhao on the snake as a 'little dragon' and a symbol of wisdom and longevity.
• Asia Research News: Lingnan University scholar on the symbolism of the snake — Professor Cai Zongqi on the snake, the dragon totem, and Fuxi and Nuwa.

The Great Race and the other tales here are folk tales, told in many versions; they are not historical events. Personality traits are traditional zodiac beliefs, shared for culture and entertainment.