Snakes – from the shrewd snake in the Bible that persuades Eve to consume the fruit from the prohibited tree, to the limbless, slimy reptile covered in overlapping scales that can set off ophidiophobia in severe conditions – can’t be considered as having a beneficial credibility in many cases. While the types is generally identified with tags such as harmful, dangerous, wicked and revolting, in Chinese folklore a white-colored member of the snake family is rather notoriously connected to a romantic story, and is a typical household tale understood to numerous in China.
The Valentine’s Day once again sheds a spotlight on this ancient legend, as the commitment, bravery and commitment associated with this cross-species love in between a young scholar and a white snake maiden, still sparkles today.
The tried and true tale goes that a white snake spirit, yearning for human life, lastly handled to change itself into a lovely girl after centuries of practice and growing. Bearing the name of Bai Suzhen, the gorgeous snake maiden fell for a reputable medical professional, Xu Xian, at very first sight when they fulfilled on a rainy day on the Broken Bridge situated in the picturesque West Lake of Hangzhou.
In some other variations, the set’s very first encounter occurred far previously. It holds that when Bai Suzhen was simply a young snake, she was as soon as saved by Xu Xian in his previous life. It was driven by thankfulness and the passion to pay back such a life-saving generosity that Bai Suzhen, through her consistent efforts, achieved her change to handle human form. After which, she set out without doubt to try to find Xu Xian and repay him back for his generous deed. The karmic connection has actually provided this famous love a sense of fate.
