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Folktale:
Madam White Snake
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I,
Madam White Snake is the heroine of this story. I am a
snake spirit. But after years of meditation, I managed
to transform myself into a beautiful lady and entered
the human world. I came to know Xu Xuan, a shop assistant |
when he
offered me an umbrella one rainy day. We had mutual admiration
for each other and this quickly blossomed into marriage.
| I
thought that I could lead a happy life as a human being.
Unfortunately, the crafty and meddlesome Fa Hai, an abbot
of Jinshan Temple took it upon himself to subdue me as
he considered me a scourge in the human |
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world. He
told my husband Xu Xian that he had fallen into the trap of
a demon and that his life was in danger.
Instigated
by the wicked monk, Xu Xian came home one day and plied me with
a medicated wine until I became drunk and resumed my original
form. The sight sent Xu Xian into a shock and a state of unconsciousness.
He could not stop Fa Hai from capturing me and imprisoning me
in the Leifeng Pagoda.
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To
save Xu Xian, I went up the Kunlun Mountains to steal
a divine cure-all herb at the risk of my life. With tender
care and my loyal maid Xiaoqing's assistance, we managed
to nurse Xu Xian back to health. Not long afterwards,
Xu Xian was abducted by the meddlesome Fa Hai and detained
in the monastry. |
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order to save my husband, I entered into a fierce struggle
with Fa Hai and even flooded the Jinshan Monastry. However,
Fa Hai eventually defeated me as I was in the advanced
stage of pregnancy. I was captured by Fa Hai who imprisoned
me |
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in Leifeng
Pagoda. Fortunately, my son, Mengjiao become a brilliant scholar.
After being appointed an official, he came to Leifeng Pagoda
where he confronted Fa Hai and demanded my release.
Now, I have
come to the end of my story. Can you think of any reasons why
people like to tell my story over and over again? What lessons
can listeners learn about my life story? Well, we can say that
my story is a reflection of the traditions and customs in the
past, where couples did not have a say in their marriage partners.
It was customary for young people to be match-made by their
parents. This story is an expression of their longing for free
love.
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