Once upon a time in ancient China, there was a talented young herbalist named Xu Xian. He had just opened his own medicine shop, which should have been a moment of great joy. However, his former employer, out of spite, sold him herbs that were completely unusable. To make matters worse, a plague hit the city, and patients flooded into his shop, desperately needing medicine.
Just when Xu Xian was feeling hopeless, his wife, Bai Su Zhen, came to the rescue. She had a special recipe that used the herbs to create a powerful medicine. Amazingly, her remedy cured all the sick people in the city. Even Xu Xian’s former employer had to buy back some of the herbs to help his own family.
Not long after, a monk named Fa Hai visited Xu Xian. He warned Xu Xian that there was a demon living in his home, claiming that the demon was actually Bai Su Zhen. Xu Xian laughed at the idea, as he couldn’t believe his kind and clever wife could be a demon. However, Fa Hai insisted and advised Xu Xian to serve Bai Su Zhen realgar wine on the 5th day of the 5th month, a time when demons are weakest. He assured Xu Xian that if she wasn’t a demon, the wine wouldn’t harm her.
At first, Xu Xian ignored the monk’s warning, but as the day approached, he decided to follow the advice. When Bai Su Zhen drank the wine, she suddenly felt unwell and rushed to the bedroom. Xu Xian went to check on her, only to find a giant white snake in the bed instead of his wife. Shocked by the sight, he fainted.
When Bai Su Zhen regained consciousness, she realized what had happened. She was indeed an immortal white snake with magical powers, who had taken human form to live a better life with Xu Xian. Although her magic couldn’t revive him, she had one last hope: an herb that could bring the dead back to life, guarded by the Old Man of the South Pole in the forbidden Kun Lun Mountains.
Determined to save Xu Xian, Bai Su Zhen traveled to the mountains on a cloud and continued on foot until she reached a gateway marked “beyond mortals.” There, she found two disciples guarding the precious herb. Disguising herself as a monk, she told them she was inviting the Old Man to a gathering of the gods. While they were distracted, she quickly grabbed some leaves from the herb and fled.
The disciples soon realized they had been tricked and chased after her. During her escape, Bai Su Zhen used a magic ball to fend off one of the disciples. As the other disciple closed in, she hid the herb under her tongue, but its magic revealed their true forms. Just as the disciple, who had transformed into a crane, was about to catch her, the Old Man appeared.
He asked Bai Su Zhen why she would risk her life for the herb when she was already immortal. She explained her deep love for Xu Xian and her desire to bring him back to life, despite revealing her true nature. She shared their karmic connection, explaining how Xu Xian had saved her in a past life when she was a small snake. Touched by her story and her willingness to sacrifice for love, the Old Man allowed her to leave with the herb.
Bai Su Zhen returned home and used the herb to revive Xu Xian. When he opened his eyes, his initial fear turned into a smile. Despite discovering her true nature, he was overjoyed to see his beloved wife again. Their love had triumphed over all obstacles, proving that true love knows no bounds.
Imagine you are a director tasked with turning the myth of the Immortal White Snake into a short film. Create a storyboard that outlines the key scenes of the story. Use drawings or digital tools to illustrate each scene, and write a brief description of what happens in each one. This will help you understand the sequence of events and the emotions involved in the story.
Choose a character from the story, such as Bai Su Zhen, Xu Xian, or Fa Hai. Write a series of diary entries from their perspective, detailing their thoughts and feelings at different points in the story. This activity will help you explore the motivations and emotions of the characters, deepening your understanding of the narrative.
Research another Chinese myth or legend and create a presentation to share with the class. Include information about the main characters, the plot, and the cultural significance of the myth. Compare and contrast it with the story of the Immortal White Snake, highlighting any common themes or lessons.
Participate in a debate where you take on the role of a character from the story. Discuss whether Bai Su Zhen’s actions were justified and if Xu Xian should have trusted her despite her true nature. This activity will help you practice critical thinking and empathy by considering different perspectives.
Rewrite the story of the Immortal White Snake in a modern setting. Think about how the characters and plot might change in today’s world. Present your adaptation as a short story or a script, and consider how the themes of love, trust, and sacrifice remain relevant. This will encourage creativity and help you connect the myth to contemporary life.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
The talented young herbalist named Xu Xian found himself in a difficult situation. It should have been a triumphant moment—he had just opened his own medicine shop. However, he had purchased his supplies from his former employer, who had sold him unusable herbs out of spite. As Xu Xian contemplated what to do with this inventory, patients began to flood into his shop due to a plague affecting the city, leaving him without anything to treat them.
Just as he was starting to feel overwhelmed, his wife, Bai Su Zhen, presented a recipe that utilized the herbs as medicine. Remarkably, her remedy cured all the afflicted citizens immediately. Even Xu Xian’s former employer had to buy back some of the herbs to treat his own family.
Shortly after, a monk named Fa Hai approached Xu Xian, warning him that there was a demon in his home. He claimed that the demon was Bai Su Zhen. Xu Xian laughed, believing his kind and resourceful wife could not possibly be a demon. Fa Hai insisted, advising Xu Xian to serve his wife realgar wine on the 5th day of the 5th month, when demons’ powers are at their weakest. He assured Xu Xian that if she was not a demon, it would not harm her.
Initially, Xu Xian dismissed the monk’s warning, but as the day approached, he decided to follow the advice. When the wine touched Bai Su Zhen’s lips, she hurried to the bedroom, claiming she felt unwell. Xu Xian prepared some medicine and went to check on her, only to find a giant white serpent in the bed instead of his wife. Overcome with shock, he collapsed.
When Bai Su Zhen regained consciousness, she quickly understood what had happened. The truth was that she was an immortal snake with powerful magical abilities. She had transformed into human form to improve their lives. Although her magic could not revive Xu Xian, she had one last idea: an herb that could grant longevity and even bring the dead back to life, guarded by the Old Man of the South Pole in the forbidden Kun Lun Mountains.
Bai Su Zhen traveled to the mountains on a cloud and continued on foot until she reached a gateway marked “beyond mortals.” On the other side, two of the Old Man’s disciples were guarding the herb. Disguising herself as a monk, she told them she had come to invite the Old Man to a gathering of the gods. While they relayed her message, she seized some leaves from the herb and fled. The disciples soon realized they had been deceived and pursued her.
In her escape, Bai Su Zhen used a magic ball to fend off one of the disciples. As the other closed in, she hid the herb under her tongue for safekeeping, but its magic revealed their true forms. Just as the crane’s beak clamped around her, the Old Man appeared. He questioned why she would risk her life to steal his herb when she was already immortal. Bai Su Zhen explained her love for Xu Xian and her determination to bring him back to life, despite the revelation of her true nature.
She shared their karmic connection that dated back over a thousand years, recounting how Xu Xian had saved her in a past life when she was a small snake. Moved by her willingness to sacrifice for him, the Old Man allowed her to leave the mountain with the herb.
Bai Su Zhen returned home to revive Xu Xian. When he opened his eyes, the initial fear on his face transformed into a smile. Regardless of her true nature, he was still overjoyed to see his wife.
—
This version maintains the essence of the story while ensuring it is appropriate for all audiences.
Myth – A traditional story, often involving supernatural beings or events, that explains a natural or social phenomenon. – In literature class, we learned about the Greek myth of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun.
Immortal – Living forever; not subject to death. – The character in the novel was granted an immortal life, allowing him to witness centuries of history.
Snake – A legless reptile often symbolizing deceit or danger in literature and religion. – In the story, the snake tempted the hero to stray from his righteous path.
Love – A deep affection or attachment towards someone or something. – The poem beautifully described the love between the two characters, transcending time and distance.
Magic – The use of supernatural powers to influence events, often found in fantasy literature. – The wizard used magic to transform the barren land into a lush garden.
Herb – A plant used for its flavor, scent, or medicinal properties, often appearing in stories as a source of healing. – The healer in the tale used a rare herb to cure the ailing prince.
Demon – An evil spirit or supernatural being often depicted as a force of chaos in religious texts and literature. – The hero had to confront the demon that haunted the village in order to restore peace.
Monk – A member of a religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. – The monk spent his days in quiet contemplation and study, seeking spiritual enlightenment.
China – A country in East Asia with a rich history and culture often explored in literature and religious studies. – The novel was set in ancient China, weaving a tale of adventure and discovery along the Silk Road.
Reunion – The act of coming together again after a period of separation, often a theme in literature. – The story concluded with a joyful reunion of the family, who had been separated by war.
