The Legend of the White Snake
The Snake That Became a Legend
Did you know that the White Snake story is over 800 years old? It began as spoken tales during the Song dynasty, long before Feng Menglong wrote it down in 1624. Surprisingly, early versions showed the snake as a scary monster, not a kind heroine! Over the centuries, storytellers turned her into a loyal wife and a tragic hero, reflecting changing ideas about love and right and wrong. This evolution shows how folklore adapts to culture, making the White Snake one of China's most enduring legends.
Long, long ago, on Mount Emei, where clouds and mist curl around the peaks, there lived a little white snake. She soaked up the essence of the sun and the moon, and after five hundred years of practice, she finally gained a spirit of her own. She longed to know what life was like in the human world, so she changed into a beautiful young woman and named herself Bai Suzhen. Bai Suzhen kept practicing on the mountain, but deep in her heart she held one wish: to walk among people and see what she could see. She often stood at the mountaintop, gazing at the far-off villages and their cooking smoke, imagining the lives of the people there. One day, she finally made up her mind to go down the mountain.
Bai Suzhen worked her magic and became a beautiful young woman dressed all in white. Her dear friend Xiao Qing, a green snake spirit, also changed into a lively, cheerful girl. Hand in hand, they rode on a cloud and flew down into the human world. They came to the city of Hangzhou, where carts and boats and people crowded the streets in a bustling, merry throng. Bai Suzhen looked at the people on the street, her heart full of wonder and delight. Xiao Qing tugged her hand and said, "Sister, the human world is so much fun!" Bai Suzhen smiled and nodded, and they decided to settle down right there.
One day, Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing went to play by West Lake. The lake shimmered with rippling light, and the lotus flowers were in full bloom. Suddenly, a light rain began to fall from the sky. Bai Suzhen was sheltering from the rain beside the bridge when a young scholar came walking over, holding an umbrella. His name was Xu Xian, and he was kind and honest. Seeing that the two young women had no umbrella, Xu Xian offered to lend them his. Bai Suzhen looked up and saw Xu Xian's clear brows and fine eyes, and her heart gave a little leap. Xu Xian, too, was drawn to Bai Suzhen's beauty. Their eyes met, and it was love at first sight. Xiao Qing giggled quietly to one side.
Before long, Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian became husband and wife. They opened a medicine shop in Hangzhou called Baohe Tang. Bai Suzhen knew medicine well, and she used herbs to heal the poor, often giving her help for free. Xu Xian took charge of filling prescriptions and keeping the accounts. The couple loved each other dearly, and their days were happy and full. Xiao Qing stayed at the shop to help too, and the whole family lived in harmony. People praised Bai Suzhen for having a heart as kind as a bodhisattva's. Bai Suzhen felt that this was the human life she had always longed for.
But good times don't last forever. There was a monk named Fahai at Jinshan Temple. He had powerful magic and could see through any disguise. One day, Fahai came to Hangzhou and saw right away that Bai Suzhen was really a snake spirit. He found Xu Xian and said sternly, "Donor, your wife is a white snake spirit. Sooner or later, she will harm you!" Xu Xian was shocked and angry. He didn't believe Fahai and thought he was talking nonsense. When Fahai saw that Xu Xian didn't believe him, he decided to find a way to expose Bai Suzhen.
The Dragon Boat Festival arrived, and people had the custom of drinking realgar wine. Fahai secretly found Xu Xian and gave him a small packet of realgar. He said, "Put this medicine in the wine. When your wife drinks it, she will show her true form." Xu Xian was half doubtful, but he did it anyway. That evening, after Bai Suzhen drank the realgar wine, she felt the world spinning. Afraid of scaring Xu Xian, she hurried into her room. Xu Xian was worried, so he pushed the door open. There, on the bed, coiled a giant white snake! Xu Xian screamed and fainted from fright.
When Bai Suzhen woke up, she found that Xu Xian was not breathing. She was overcome with grief. She knew that only the immortal herb on Kunlun Mountain could save Xu Xian. So, despite being pregnant, she flew on a cloud to Kunlun Mountain. The immortal herb was guarded by a crane boy. Bai Suzhen begged and pleaded, but the crane boy refused to give it to her. Bai Suzhen had no choice but to steal it. The crane boy caught her, and they fought. Bai Suzhen fought desperately, grabbed the herb, and flew home wounded. At last, she saved Xu Xian.
Fahai saw that Xu Xian was still with Bai Suzhen, so he forcibly took Xu Xian away and locked him up in Jinshan Temple. Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing rushed to Jinshan Temple and begged Fahai to release him. But Fahai said coldly, "Humans and demons cannot be together. Forget it!" Bai Suzhen was furious. She and Xiaoqing used their magic to flood Jinshan Temple. Huge waves surged toward the temple, but Fahai used his robe to block the water. The battle raged on. Because Bai Suzhen was pregnant, she grew weak and could not save Xu Xian in the end.
Later, Bai Suzhen gave birth to a son. Fahai took advantage of her weakness and used his golden alms bowl to capture her, trapping her under the Leifeng Pagoda. Xu Xian took their son and was heartbroken. Xiao Qing escaped, and she vowed to rescue her sister. Under the pagoda, Bai Suzhen missed her husband and son day and night, and her tears turned into the waters of West Lake. Xu Xian raised their son alone and told him that his mother was a kind person.
Many years later, Bai Suzhen's son grew up. He studied hard and became the top scholar. He came to the Leifeng Pagoda, knelt down, and wept. His filial love moved the heavens. With a loud rumble, the pagoda split open, and Bai Suzhen walked out. The family was finally reunited, and Xiao Qing returned too. They hugged and cried, and from then on they lived happily. Bai Suzhen's kindness and bravery made this beautiful story unforgettable.
