Snake-like mythological characters of Shandong province (China) in comparision with Serbian ones

Abstract

The article is devoted to the snake-like mythological characters, found in the mythology of Chinese Shandong province in comparison with South Slavic word on the example of the Serbian tradition. The article presents an analysis of the names of mythological characters through the two languages on the basis of the ethnic tradition. The images of snake-like mythological characters, etiological legends, local rituals and folk customs in the Shandong province and the Serbian tradition are also considered. This study shows how the mythological perception of reality is reflected in the cultural code and in the language picture of the world. The characters can be divided according to the appearance into zoomorphic and anthropomorphic ones. The names of various snake-like characters, corresponding to the presentational carrier of the ethnic culture in Shandong province and Serbia, show typological and individual differences. In the analysis of cultural vocabulary common linguistic phenomena were found, such as taboo words, euphemisms, etc. In the mythology of Shandong province and Serbia, the images of snake-like characters have similarities and differences, reflecting the human perception and cognitive process. The study uses the methodology of the Moscow ethnolinguistics school, aimed at the reconstruction of spiritual culture.