Once upon a time, there was a man named Xu Xian who received an invitation to the grand opening of the new Jin Shan Temple. His wife, Bai Su Zhen, who was actually a kind spirit in human form, advised him not to go. Their marriage had already faced trouble from a meddling monk named Fa Hai. However, Xu Xian felt he had to attend because of his strong religious beliefs.
What Xu Xian didn’t know was that the invitation was a trick by Fa Hai, the monk who had previously tried to separate him from Bai Su Zhen. When Xu Xian arrived at the temple, Fa Hai confronted him. The monk insisted that Xu Xian needed to stay at the monastery to cleanse his soul because he was married to a spirit. Xu Xian disagreed, but Fa Hai refused to let him leave.
Back at home, Bai Su Zhen felt something was wrong. Her husband had left so quickly that she hadn’t had the chance to tell him she was pregnant. Worried after he had been gone for a while, she decided to go to the temple. When she arrived, Fa Hai used his magic to create chaos. Despite being weakened by her pregnancy, Bai Su Zhen used her powers to fight the monk and stop the destruction, but this accidentally harmed innocent villagers. For the first time, she felt she had lost favor with the divine.
Fa Hai tried to trap Bai Su Zhen in a magical bowl, but just when all seemed lost, a bright light emerged from within her, saving her from the monk’s magic. The couple managed to escape home, thankful for the mysterious power that had protected them. Soon after, Bai Su Zhen gave birth to their son, Xu Shi Lin.
Despite the joy of their son’s birth, Xu Xian was worried about the trouble his wife’s actions might bring. Not long after, Fa Hai appeared at their door with an alms bowl, claiming it would bring good fortune for their newborn. Although suspicious of the monk, Xu Xian accepted the gift, remembering Bai Su Zhen’s earlier incident. However, as soon as the bowl entered their home, it trapped Bai Su Zhen inside. Fa Hai buried the bowl beneath the Lei Feng Pagoda, telling Xu Xian that she would be freed when the iron tree bloomed.
Feeling guilty, Xu Xian left for a monastery, leaving Shi Lin in the care of his aunt. What they didn’t know was that Shi Lin was the reincarnation of a wisdom deity, sent to reward Xu Xian’s devotion. This divine connection had protected Bai Su Zhen at the temple, and as Shi Lin grew, so did his wisdom.
At age 19, Shi Lin traveled to the capital to take the imperial exam and achieved the highest score in the empire. The Emperor awarded him a beautiful hat adorned with jewels. Despite his success, he couldn’t stop thinking about his parents’ fate. He convinced his father to return from exile and took him to the Lei Feng Pagoda to honor his mother. Kneeling before it, he placed his jeweled prize on the iron tree as an offering.
Suddenly, the ground opened, and Bai Su Zhen emerged. With her sins absolved by the tribute of a god and a blossom on the iron tree, Shi Lin had freed his mother and reunited their family, both mortal and divine.
Illustrate the key events of “The Chinese Myth of the Meddling Monk” by creating a storyboard. Use six panels to depict the main scenes, such as the invitation to the temple, Bai Su Zhen’s battle, and the miracle of the iron tree. This will help you visualize the story and understand the sequence of events.
Choose a character from the story, such as Xu Xian, Bai Su Zhen, or Fa Hai, and write a monologue from their perspective. Perform your monologue for the class, focusing on your character’s motivations and emotions. This activity will deepen your understanding of the characters and their roles in the story.
Divide into two groups and debate whether Fa Hai’s actions were justified. One group will argue that he was protecting Xu Xian, while the other will argue that he was meddling unnecessarily. This will help you explore different viewpoints and the moral complexities of the story.
Imagine a different conclusion to the story. Write a short narrative that changes the outcome of the myth. Consider how the characters’ lives might be different and what lessons could be learned from your new ending. This will encourage creative thinking and a deeper engagement with the story’s themes.
Research the cultural and historical background of the myth. Create a presentation that explains the significance of the story in Chinese culture and how it reflects societal values. Share your findings with the class to enhance everyone’s understanding of the myth’s cultural importance.
Xu Xian had just received another invitation to the opening ceremony of the new Jin Shan Temple. His wife, Bai Su Zhen, had warned him not to attend. As a benevolent spirit in human form, their marriage had already faced challenges from meddling monks. However, Xu Xian felt obligated to make an appearance due to his devout beliefs.
Unbeknownst to them, these invitations had come from Fa Hai, a monk who had previously tried to separate the couple, nearly harming Xu Xian in the process. When Xu Xian arrived, Fa Hai confronted him, insisting that because he associated with a spirit, he must remain at the monastery to cleanse his soul. Xu Xian protested, but Fa Hai would not allow him to leave.
At home, Bai Su Zhen felt uneasy. Her husband had left so quickly that she hadn’t had the chance to tell him she was pregnant. Sensing something was wrong after he had been gone for a while, she made her way to the temple. Upon encountering Fa Hai, he used his magic, causing chaos. Weakened from her pregnancy, Bai Su Zhen summoned her powers to confront the monk and extinguish the flames, but this inadvertently caused harm to innocent villagers. For the first time, she felt she had fallen out of favor with the divine.
Fa Hai attempted to trap her in his magical bowl, but just when it seemed hopeless, a bright light emerged from within her, saving her from the monk’s magic. The couple fled home, grateful for the mysterious power that had protected them, and soon after, Bai Su Zhen gave birth to their son, Xu Shi Lin.
Despite this joyous occasion, Xu Xian felt uneasy about his wife’s unintended actions and the potential misfortune it could bring. Not long after, Fa Hai appeared at their door, offering Xu Xian an alms bowl to ensure good fortune for their newborn. Although wary of the monk, Xu Xian accepted the gift, remembering Bai Su Zhen’s earlier incident. However, as soon as the bowl entered their home, it trapped Bai Su Zhen inside. Fa Hai buried the bowl beneath the Lei Feng Pagoda, telling Xu Xian that she would be free when the iron tree bloomed.
Overcome with guilt, Xu Xian left for a monastery, leaving Shi Lin in the care of his aunt. What neither of them knew was that the boy was the reincarnation of a wisdom deity, sent to reward Xu Xian’s devotion. This divine connection had protected Bai Su Zhen at the temple, and as Shi Lin grew, so did his wisdom.
At age 19, Shi Lin went to the capital to take the imperial exam and achieved the highest score in the empire. The Emperor himself awarded him a beautiful hat adorned with jewels. Despite his success, the fate of his parents weighed heavily on his mind. He coaxed his father from exile and took him to the Lei Feng Pagoda to honor his mother. Kneeling before it, he placed his jeweled prize on the iron tree as an offering.
Suddenly, the ground opened, and Bai Su Zhen emerged. With her sins absolved by the tribute of a god and a blossom on the iron tree, Shi Lin had freed his mother and reunited their family, both mortal and divine.
Xu Xian – A character from Chinese folklore, often depicted as a kind-hearted scholar who falls in love with a snake spirit. – In the story, Xu Xian’s love for Bai Su Zhen is tested by the interference of Fa Hai.
Bai Su Zhen – A legendary white snake spirit who transforms into a woman and falls in love with Xu Xian. – Bai Su Zhen’s devotion to Xu Xian is a central theme in the tale of the White Snake.
Fa Hai – A Buddhist monk known for his role in the Legend of the White Snake, where he opposes the union of Xu Xian and Bai Su Zhen. – Fa Hai’s determination to separate Xu Xian and Bai Su Zhen leads to dramatic conflicts in the story.
Temple – A place of worship and spiritual practice, often central to religious stories and rituals. – The temple on the hill was where the villagers gathered to seek guidance and peace.
Monk – A religious individual dedicated to a life of spiritual discipline, often living in a monastery. – The monk spent his days in meditation and study, seeking enlightenment.
Spirit – A supernatural being or essence, often representing a force of nature or a departed soul. – In many tales, the spirit of the forest was both feared and revered by the villagers.
Magic – The use of supernatural powers or abilities, often featured in myths and legends. – The magician’s magic transformed the ordinary night into a spectacle of wonder.
Wisdom – The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment, often attributed to wise characters in literature. – The old sage’s wisdom was sought by many who faced difficult decisions.
Divine – Relating to a god or deity, often associated with heavenly or sacred qualities. – The divine presence in the temple filled the worshippers with awe and reverence.
Reunion – The act of coming together again after a period of separation, often a joyful event in stories. – The reunion of the long-lost siblings was a heartwarming moment in the novel.
