After centuries of meditation, a white snake spirit named Bai Suzhen transformed into a beautiful woman. Alongside her companion, a green snake named Xiao Qing, she traveled to West Lake in Hangzhou. There, amidst a gentle rain on the Broken Bridge, she met a kind-hearted scholar named Xu Xian. They fell deeply in love and married, opening a medicine shop together to heal the sick. However, their happiness was threatened by Abbot Fahai, a powerful monk who believed spirits and humans should never coexist. Fahai tricked Xu Xian into giving Bai Suzhen realgar wine during the Dragon Boat Festival, which forced her back into her serpent form. The shock killed Xu Xian, but Bai Suzhen risked her life to steal a magical herb from the heavens to revive him. Despite her devotion, Fahai eventually imprisoned her beneath the Leifeng Pagoda. Only years later, after her son excelled in the imperial examinations and offered prayers for her, was she finally freed, proving that the bonds of love and sacrifice are more powerful than any cage.
True love and devotion can transcend the boundaries of nature and survive even the harshest persecution.
Questions about this story
What is the moral of The White Snake?
The story emphasizes that love and virtue are not determined by one's origin or species. It teaches that true devotion can overcome prejudice and that rigid adherence to rules, like Fahai’s, can be unnecessarily cruel.
Who are the main characters in the Legend of the White Snake?
The main characters include Bai Suzhen (the White Snake), her husband Xu Xian, her loyal sister Xiao Qing (the Green Snake), and the antagonistic monk Fahai.
What is the significance of the Dragon Boat Festival in the story?
During this festival, it is traditional to drink realgar wine to ward off pests. In the legend, this wine acts as a poison to spirits, forcing Bai Suzhen to reveal her true snake form to Xu Xian.
Where does The White Snake story take place?
The legend is primarily set in Hangzhou, China, specifically around the scenic West Lake and the Leifeng Pagoda, which are real historical sites visitors can see today.
Advertisement
Good night.
