Long ago, beside the shimmering waters of West Lake in Hangzhou, there lived a kind young scholar named Xu Xian. He was gentle, honest, and devoted to learning, though he lived a simple life selling medicines by the roadside. Every day, he watched the boats glide over the lake, unaware that destiny had already begun weaving his path with a being from another world.
In the realm of spirits, there lived a white snake who had cultivated her powers for a thousand years. Through centuries of meditation and virtue, she gained the ability to take human form. The spirits called her Bai Suzhen. Though she possessed wisdom and beauty beyond measure, her heart longed for one thing to experience the joys and sorrows of human love.
One spring day, as rain softened the air and willows bent toward the lake, Bai Suzhen descended to the human world with her playful companion, a green snake spirit named Xiaoqing. Disguised as two graceful young women, they crossed the Broken Bridge at West Lake, where fate awaited them.
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At that very moment, Xu Xian happened to be crossing the same bridge. A sudden gust of wind caused Bai Suzhen’s umbrella to slip from her hands. Xu Xian caught it just in time. Their eyes met, and in that single glance, their hearts recognized each other. Grateful for his kindness, Bai Suzhen walked with him through the rain, and as they spoke, affection bloomed between them like spring flowers.
Soon after, Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian were married. They opened a medicine shop together, where Bai Suzhen used her spiritual knowledge to heal the sick. Their shop became famous throughout Hangzhou, for every remedy seemed to work like magic. Yet Bai Suzhen’s goodness drew not only admiration but also suspicion.
In the Golden Mountain Temple lived a powerful monk named Fahai, who possessed great spiritual insight. He sensed that Bai Suzhen was no ordinary woman. Fearing that a spirit’s presence among mortals would disrupt the balance of Heaven and Earth, he set out to separate the couple.
On the festival of the Dragon Boat, Fahai disguised himself and gave Xu Xian a cup of realgar wine. It was said to protect humans from evil spirits. Unaware of the monk’s plan, Xu Xian brought the wine home and offered it to his wife. Out of love, Bai Suzhen accepted it, though she knew it was dangerous.
Moments after drinking, she felt her spirit waver. Unable to keep her human form, she transformed back into a giant white serpent. When Xu Xian saw her true form, fear overcame him, and he fell lifeless to the ground.
Heartbroken, Bai Suzhen cried out in despair. She refused to let fate end their love. Guided by Xiaoqing, she flew to Kunlun Mountain to find the Sacred Herb of Immortality. After countless trials, she obtained it and returned to revive Xu Xian. When he awoke and saw her tears, he understood the depth of her devotion. No longer afraid, he embraced her, vowing never to leave her side again.
But Fahai would not rest. He appeared before them and summoned the power of the heavens to imprison Bai Suzhen. Despite Xu Xian’s pleas, the monk trapped her beneath Leifeng Pagoda by West Lake, sealing her within for eternity. The pagoda became a silent monument to her love and sacrifice.
Years passed, and Bai Suzhen’s son grew up to become a wise scholar. Out of love for his mother, he prayed day and night for her release. Moved by his filial devotion and Bai Suzhen’s enduring faith, the heavens finally relented. Lightning struck the pagoda, breaking the seal and freeing her spirit. Bai Suzhen was reunited with her family at last, her love purified and eternal.
To this day, the people of Hangzhou tell her story beside West Lake, where the willows still lean gently over the water. They say that when the moonlight touches the surface, you can see the reflection of a woman in white smiling softly across the waves.
Moral Lesson
True love is bound not by form or time but by the heart’s purity. Compassion and faith can overcome even the boundaries between the mortal and the divine.
Knowledge Check
1. Who are the main characters in The Legend of the White Snake?
Bai Suzhen, the white snake spirit, and Xu Xian, the kind scholar.
2. What event brings Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian together?
They meet on the Broken Bridge during a spring rain at West Lake.
3. Who tries to separate the couple, and why?
The monk Fahai believes that spirits should not live among humans.
4. What happens when Bai Suzhen drinks the realgar wine?
She transforms into her true white snake form, and Xu Xian faints in shock.
5. How does Bai Suzhen revive Xu Xian?
She finds the Sacred Herb of Immortality from Kunlun Mountain and brings him back to life.
6. What symbol remains of Bai Suzhen’s love?
Leifeng Pagoda at West Lake, which once imprisoned her spirit and now stands as a symbol of eternal devotion.
Source:
Adapted from the Chinese legend “Bai She Zhuan” (白蛇传), first appearing in Jing Shi Tong Yan (Stories to Caution the World) by Feng Menglong (1624).
Cultural Origin: China (Han Chinese folklore)
