ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Legend of the White Snake

The Legend of the White Snake is a story that is often told in China. It is a story about love, magic, and forgiveness.

Once upon a time, there was a powerful and wise man named Zhang. He had a wife named Bai Suzhen who was actually a white snake with magical powers. One day, while walking in the human world, Bai Suzhen met and fell in love with a man named Xu Xian.

Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian got married, and they were very happy together. However, there was a man named Fahai who was a Buddhist monk and did not want the two of them to be together. One day, Fahai discovered that Bai Suzhen was actually a snake and told Xu Xian about it.

Xu Xian was frightened when he learned the truth and became very ill. Bai Suzhen went to seek the help of a magical herb from Mount Emei, but when she returned, she found Xu Xian to have died. Xu Xian had been tricked into eating a tonic that would lead him to death.

Bai Suzhen was heartbroken and went to Mount Emei to confront Fahai, the monk who had tricked Xu Xian into taking the tonic. The two of them fought a fierce battle, and Bai Suzhen ended up trapped at Leifeng Pagoda.

Years passed, and the white snake spirit Bai Suzhen gained so much power over time that she was able to rip apart the walls of the pagoda to escape. She returned to the human world with her sister, who had also gained power. Together, the two of them defeated Fahai and revived Xu Xian, who forgave both of them.

Finally, the couple was able to live happily ever after. Thus, the story of the Legend of the White Snake became very popular in China and has since been passed on for generations.