A legendary journey from Hangzhou's West Lake to New York
Reimagining a centuries-old Chinese folk tale through experimental theater, a Yale student brings The Legend of the White Snake to contemporary, multicultural audiences in the US through the medium of Mandarin.
The Legend of the White Snake, dating back to China's Tang Dynasty (618–907), is a household folk tale that has been reinterpreted many times over the centuries. It is not only a classic in many local operas, such as Peking and Kunqu, but has also been adapted into numerous films, TV dramas and animated series.
Some of the most popular adaptations include the 1992 costume drama New Legend of Madame White Snake and director Tsui Hark's 1993 film Green Snake, which sheds more light on White Snake's sister-like maidservant, Xiaoqing, a green serpent spirit.
An enchanting blend of romance, tragedy and magic, the tale tells of a poignant love story between Bai Suzhen, a white snake spirit transformed into a woman, and Xu Xian, a handsome scholar. The two are bound by karma and gratitude to one another. Their union, however, is thwarted by a Buddhist monk named Fahai, who deems their relationship transgressive. The story celebrates enduring love, loyalty and the struggle for freedom.
