Leifeng Pagoda myths and legends

The monk Fahai, seeking to preserve the boundary between the mortal and spirit worlds, captures the white snake spirit Bai Suzhen using a magical golden alms bowl. This final confrontation occurs shortly after Bai Suzhen gives birth to her human son, leading to her long imprisonment beneath the Leifeng Pagoda. It is the tragic climax of a story that pits forbidden love against the rigid laws...

The Legend of the White Snake tells the story of Bai Suzhen, a snake spirit who transforms into a human and marries a kind physician named Xu Xian. Their love is challenged by the monk Fahai, who views their union as unnatural and eventually traps Bai Suzhen under the Leifeng Pagoda. The story concludes with the eventual liberation of Bai Suzhen through the filial piety and scholarly success...