Xu Xian

Xu Xian, China, Qing dynasty, 1644-1911 AD, cowhide - Sichuan Provincial Museum - Chengdu, China - DSC04593

Xu Xian (许仙) is a central character in the Chinese legend of the Legend of the White Snake (白蛇传), one of China's Four Great Folktales. The story has been adapted into various forms of Chinese opera, film, television, and literature.

Legend

Xu Xian is a young scholar who lives in Hangzhou, a city in Zhejiang province. He is known for his kind and gentle nature. The legend begins when Xu Xian meets a beautiful woman named Bai Suzhen, who is actually a white snake spirit in human form. They fall in love and get married, but their happiness is threatened by the monk Fa Hai, who believes that humans and spirits should not intermingle.

Meeting Bai Suzhen

Xu Xian first encounters Bai Suzhen at the West Lake in Hangzhou. During the Dragon Boat Festival, Bai Suzhen and her maid, Xiao Qing, who is a green snake spirit, transform into human form to visit the lake. Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen meet and fall in love almost instantly. They later marry and open a medicine shop together.

Conflict with Fa Hai

The monk Fa Hai, residing at the Jinshan Temple, discovers Bai Suzhen's true identity and warns Xu Xian. Despite Fa Hai's warnings, Xu Xian remains devoted to Bai Suzhen. Fa Hai then captures Xu Xian and imprisons him in the Jinshan Temple. Bai Suzhen, in an attempt to rescue her husband, floods the temple with the help of Xiao Qing, but ultimately fails to save him.

Reunion and Separation

After many trials and tribulations, including Bai Suzhen giving birth to their son, Xu Mengjiao, Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen are eventually reunited. However, Bai Suzhen is captured by Fa Hai and imprisoned under the Leifeng Pagoda. The story concludes with their son growing up and becoming a successful scholar, who eventually frees his mother from her imprisonment.

Cultural Impact

The story of Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen has had a significant impact on Chinese culture. It has been adapted into numerous Chinese operas, films, and television series. The tale is celebrated for its themes of love, loyalty, and the struggle between good and evil.

Adaptations

The legend of Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen has been adapted into various forms of media, including:

• The Legend of the White Snake (1956 film)
• New Legend of Madame White Snake (1992 TV series)
• The Sorcerer and the White Snake (2011 film)

See Also

• Bai Suzhen
• Fa Hai
• Legend of the White Snake
• Chinese mythology
• Hangzhou
• West Lake