ANN/THE JAPAN NEWS – A temple in Maniwa, Okayama Prefecture, Japan is showcasing two white snakes in a kumiko lattice cage crafted from Japanese cypress and other woods to commemorate the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac.
White snakes, regarded as symbols of good luck, align with the temple’s wish to bring fortune to its visitors. Established in 815, the temple invites worshippers to experience this unique exhibit and embrace its auspicious significance.
The two albino Japanese rat snakes measure about 90 centimetres long. They were donated to the chief priest Shuko Takamine, 43, in 2019. The priest raised them in his living quarters and displayed them only during the warm seasons.
However, thanks to cooperation from a local furniture and fitting manufacturer, the temple was able to introduce the new cage, which is equipped with a warming device, so the priest decided to display the snakes throughout the year.
A legend has it that a white snake has inhabited the Bentendo hall in the temple’s pond since ancient times.
