There are several legends and stories about the animals chosen to make up the Chinese astrological system. One of these legends refers to the intention of the Jade Emperor to know the animals that inhabited the Earth. He decided that some of them should be brought before him. To facilitate the selection, the Emperor defined two criteria: they would have to be valuable animals for Man or be one of the first to arrive at the Celestial Palace on the day of the election of the animals.
Long ago, the Snake and the frog were great friends. The Snake had four legs at that time, and the frog had none. The Snake was lazy and trusted the frog to catch its insects. Therefore, humans saw utility in the frog but distrusted the Snake.
Irritated and disgusted by his fame among the people, the Snake began to attack them and their animals. Worried, the Jade Emperor called her into his presence and warned her about her bad behavior. However, the Snake insisted on the attack. They removed all four legs and offered them to the frog as punishment.
Ashamed of her behavior, the Snake changed her attitude and began to help the men in an attempt to redeem herself from her previous mistakes. Impressed, the Jade Emperor gave the Serpent a place among the animal signs, right after the Dragon. He helped Dragon to control the rains and donated his body so that, after death, it could be used for the production of medicines.
In the Chinese Astrological system, each sign of the Zodiac is associated with one of the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The characteristics of a person's personality are influenced by various influences, including the sign and element of the year of birth. For example, a Wood Snake appears once in the 60-year cycle. Therefore, there are five types of Snakes, each with its own characteristics: