Bai Suzhen

After one thousand years of disciplined training in Taoism on Mount Emei, the white snake, Bai Suzhen, is transformed into a woman by the essence of the Dragon King of the East China Sea. She decides to go out into the human world and do good deeds in order to become immortal. She is later accepted by the goddess Lishan Laomu as a disciple.[2][5]

On a visit to West Lake, she falls in love with a young man named Xu Xian and soon becomes his wife. Eventually, however, a Buddhist monk, Abbot Fahai, discovers her true origin and compels her to fight for both her marriage and her freedom. At last he tracks down the couple, defeats Bai Suzhen and imprisons her in the imposing Leifeng Pagoda. She is finally freed from the pagoda when her son's filial piety moves Heaven.[2]

In some versions, after her imprisonment she is transformed into the goddess Yaotai Laomu's mount. She goes on to accompany Yaotai Laomu for many years as they attempt to help all living beings and save the world.[6]

Bai Suzhen is worshipped as a deity in Chinese folk religion, where she is known as Madam White Snake.[7] It is said that she and Xu Xian once practiced Chinese medicine and that believers came to them seeking healing and health advice. In Taoyuan City, Yangmei District, Taiwan, the White Snake Temple was built in 1991 and dedicated to her.[8][9] The temple inaugurated the annual Dragon Boat Festival to celebrate the birthday of Madam White Snake, and it has become a traditional and popular event.[10][11]

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  Figurines, including one of Bai Suzhen, in the White Snake Temple in Taiwan
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  A wood relief decoration in the Leifeng Tower, Hangzhou
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  Hand-carved 3D wood reliefs depicting the story of Bai Suzhen
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  Image from the Summer Palace, Beijing, China, depicting the legend
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  White Snake Temple in Taiwan
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  Statutes in the White Snake Temple
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  Bai Suzhen in an opera portraying the legend
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  Statutes of the three protagonists in the Peking Opera.