Legend of the White Snake(白蛇传)

The Legend of the White Snake is one of China's most celebrated folktales, ranked among the Four Great Folktales alongside Lady Meng Jiang, The Butterfly Lovers, and The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. At its heart is a tragic and supernatural romance between a mortal man named Xu Xian and a white snake spirit who takes human form as a woman named Bai Suzhen.

The story begins on Mount Emei, where a white snake and a blue-green snake cultivate their powers over centuries and eventually transform into two beautiful young women: Bai Suzhen and her companion Xiaoqing. As close friends, the two travel to Lin'an Prefecture (modern-day Hangzhou), where they meet Xu Xian during a rainy day on West Lake. Xu Xian kindly lends them his umbrella, and this simple gesture sparks a deep love between him and Bai Suzhen. The two eventually marry and open a successful medicine shop, using Bai Suzhen’s spiritual knowledge to heal others.

Their happiness, however, draws the attention of Fahai, the abbot of Jinshan Temple in Zhenjiang. Fahai suspects Bai Suzhen’s true nature and warns Xu Xian that his wife is not human. Dismissing the warning, Xu Xian is later convinced to give her realgar wine during the Dragon Boat Festival, a drink known to reveal or harm spirits. Bai Suzhen drinks the wine and, unable to maintain her disguise, transforms back into a giant white snake. Xu Xian dies from the shock of seeing her true form.

Determined to save him, Bai Suzhen travels to the sacred mountains of Kunlun, where she bravely infiltrates a spiritual sanctuary guarded by the disciples of the Old Man of the South Pole. There, she acquires a magical herb that brings Xu Xian back to life. Yet when he awakens, Xu Xian remains terrified and confused. Seeking refuge and clarity, he travels to Jinshan Temple, where Fahai imprisons him and claims it is for his protection.

Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing rush to the temple to rescue him, engaging in a fierce magical battle against Fahai. He summons powerful guardian deities like Skanda and Sangharama to aid him, while Bai Suzhen, despite being pregnant, unleashes a flood in an attempt to overpower her enemies. Weakened by her condition, she fails to free Xu Xian, and the two women retreat to Hangzhou.

In time, Xu Xian realizes that Bai Suzhen’s love for him was always sincere, and he no longer fears her true identity. He persuades a kind-hearted monk to help him escape the temple. He returns to the Broken Bridge at West Lake, where he is reunited with Bai Suzhen. Xiaoqing, furious at his earlier betrayal, nearly attacks him, but Bai Suzhen intervenes. Xu Xian apologizes and is ultimately forgiven by both women, although Xiaoqing remains hesitant.

Bai Suzhen later gives birth to a son, named Xu Mengjiao or Xu Shilin in some versions. Their family’s peace is short-lived. Fahai discovers their whereabouts and returns to confront them. Despite Xu Xian’s pleas, Fahai defeats Bai Suzhen and imprisons her beneath the Leifeng Pagoda. Xiaoqing escapes the battle, swearing to avenge her friend and someday free her from captivity.

The tale of Bai Suzhen endures as a powerful story of love, loyalty, sacrifice, and the struggle between human compassion and spiritual law.