sign of the snake or serpent, 9-11AM, sixth sign of Chinese zodiac
巳 centers on the snake as the sixth Chinese zodiac sign, including its associated time period (9–11 AM). The meaning is primarily a calendrical and symbolic label rather than a concrete object.
巳 is a pictograph of a snake or embryo, later assigned to the sixth Earthly Branch and the snake zodiac sign. The exact ancient shape development is uncertain, but the association with the snake is well established.
The curled shape of 巳 looks like a snake coiled up, fitting its role as the snake zodiac sign.
For シ, imagine a snake hissing 'shhh' as it uncoils: the hiss cues シ, and the snake is the zodiac sign.
the Snake (sixth sign of the Chinese zodiac); the Serpent
southeast
Doll's Festival (March 3); Girls' Festival; Peach Festival
first Serpent day of the year
Fire Snake (54th term of the sexagenary cycle, e.g. 1917, 1977, 2037)
Wood Snake (42nd term of the sexagenary cycle, e.g. 1905, 1965, 2025)
Earth Snake (6th term of the sexagenary cycle, e.g. 1929, 1989, 2049)
all the same
hour of the Snake (around 10am, 9-11am, or 10am-12 noon); hour of the Serpent
year of the Snake
day of the Snake
purification ceremony held on the first day of the snake in the 3rd month of the lunar calendar
year of the Snake
Water Snake (30th term of the sexagenary cycle, e.g. 1953, 2013, 2073)
Metal Snake (18th term of the sexagenary cycle, e.g. 1941, 2001, 2061)
geisha from the Fukagawa red-light district in Edo