Legend of the White Snake(白蛇传):
In Chinese, it is pronounced as: bái shé zhuàn，Written as:

“Legend of the White Snake” is one of the four great folktales of China, alongside “Butterfly Lovers,” “Meng Jiangnv,” and “the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid.” This tale has been widely circulated among the populace since the Song Dynasty and extensively propagated and developed through operas, novels, and other forms during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The story primarily narrates the tale of a white snake spirit who, after a thousand years of Cultivation, transforms into the beautiful woman, Bai Suzhen, and marries the scholar Xu Xian.
Bai Suzhen and her companion, the green snake spirit Xiao Qing, assume human forms and encounter Xu Xian by West Lake. Due to their predestined affinity and Bai Suzhen’s efforts, they quickly fall in love and marry. After their marriage, Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian open a pharmacy in Hangzhou, where they use Bai Suzhen’s medical skills to do good and accumulate virtue, leading a blissful and fulfilled life.
When Fahai, a monk from Jinshan Temple, learns of Bai Suzhen’s true identity, he deems the union of human and Guai against the heavenly laws and schemes to separate them. He tricks Xu Xian into giving Bai Suzhen realgar wine during the Dragon Boat Festival, causing her to reveal her true form and frightening Xu Xian into unconsciousness.
To save Xu Xian, Bai Suzhen daringly ascends to the Celestial Court to steal the Immortal Herb Ganoderma lucidum and ultimately revives him. However, Xu Xian, instilled with fear and swayed by Fahai’s words, seeks refuge in Jinshan Temple. Bai Suzhen, aiming to rescue her husband, confronts Fahai at the temple with Xiao Qing’s help, but they are rebuffed and humiliated. Left with no choice, Bai Suzhen unleashes a Magic spell, causing the waters to inundate Jinshan Temple and engages in a fierce magical battle with Fahai. Ultimately weakened by her pregnancy, Bai Suzhen is subdued by Fahai and imprisoned under Leifeng Pagoda, separated from Xu Xian.
After enduring hardships, Xu Xian sincerely repents and undertakes years of cultivation, eventually achieving official recognition. Xiao Qing, having enhanced her Supernatural powers through Cultivation, eventually helps defeat Fahai with Xu Xian’s support, leading to the collapse of Leifeng Pagoda and Bai Suzhen’s liberation, reuniting the family.
From the Ming dynasty’s “Madame White Serpent Permanently Subdued under Leifeng Pagoda” to the Qing dynasty’s “Legend of Leifeng Pagoda,” and onward to modern novels, Yue opera, and Huangmei opera, the story of “Legend of the White Snake” has been continuously adapted and performed. Numerous film and television adaptations, such as the popular 1992 TV series “New Legend of Madame White Snake” starring Zhao Yazhi, have been based on this tale. Bai Suzhen’s character symbolizes steadfast love and noble bravery, reflecting people’s ideal pursuit of love and critique of traditional rites.