Buddhism and Daoism in Chinese Fiction

1. Lady White Snake Buddhism and Daoism in Chinese Fiction

2. The Sorcerer and the White Snake (1),(2),(3) (A Jet Li movie)

3. Characteristics of Classical Chinese Fiction Buddhist and Daoist worldviews and soteriological theories have significant impacts on Chinese fiction Chinese fiction writers tend to mix elements of Buddhist and Daoist tenets in their storytelling Theories of heavens, hells, and other realms of existence A wide array of deities, immortals and supernatural beings different theories of alchemy, longevity, immortality techniques Medical, therapeutic, healing, live-saving formulae Gymnastics and martial art traditions Karmic retribution and cross-world interaction and communication

4. Boundary between human/natural world and supermundane/supernatural world is blurred or broken Occult, magic, ghosts, demons, fairies, fox spirits …abound Young men, often students, encountered bewitching beauties who turn out to be fox spirits or demons that had attained the Way after self-cultivation of hundreds or thousands of years, and could take on human form Personification and humanization of animals To the extent, an animal-turned human, is more often a stickler for moral codes of society than her human sister or lover

5. Buddhist monks and Daoist priests played the role of ritual masters, actively performing exorcism • Didacticism • Fiction writers often end their stories with didacticism, mostly because they are influenced by Buddhist and Daoist ethical and moral theories

6. The Precious Scroll of Thunder Peak provides an typical example of such didactic ending.(p.84) The last verse reflect sinicized Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian moral views (p.84), demonstrating the working of "Syncretism". • Happy ending

7. The Legend of the White Snake in Different Genres • In narrative • In precious scroll • In operatic/singing verse (tanci) • In theatrical form (stage performance)

8. The Legend of the White Snake--in narrative • The legend predated the Song dynasty, but became popular in the Song because of the rise of urban culture and storytelling • Had been told many times since then in different fictional and theatrical forms, before it was written into a lengthy narrative fiction • Expansion and adaptation of the legend abounded during Ming and Qing times, and continued well into the 21st century • A Southern Song short story “The Student Qian Yan” may have been the prototype of the legend

9. Feng Menglong’s “Madame Bai Is Imprisoned Forever under Thunder Peak Pagoda”, included in his story collection published in 1624 (late Ming Dynasty) is the first full-length, standardized version of the legend written in vernacular Chinese • Since its publication, Feng’s narrative has been adapted many times into operas and plays for performance on stage later

10. Of them, three were most poplar in Qing times, and all of them bear the same title Thunder Peak Pagoda • Referred to as Huang Tubi’s TPP adaptation • Actors’ TPP adaptation (mid-eighteen century) • Fang Chengpei’s TPP adaptation • A tanci singing version, titled The Virtuous Seductress, by Ma Rufei was also very popular

11. The White Snake Legend in Narrative West Lake. Ink on paper. Handscroll. Southern Song (1127-1279) period. Shanghai Museum.

12. The Legend of the White Snake: Feng Menglong’s Narrative: Madame Bai Is Imprisoned Forever under Thunder Peak Pagoda • Backdrop: Hangzhou, Suzhou, Zhenjiang, Southern Song (12th c-13th c) • Main characters: • Xu Xian, a young pharmacist • Lady Bai, a white snake-transformed beautiful widow • Little Blue, a blue carp-transformed beauty, Bai’s maidservant • Xu Xian’s sister and brother-in-law, Mr. Li

13. A Daoist master who gives Xu amulets to exorcise demon • Li Keyong, owner of a pharmacy in Zhenjiang who hosts Xu and Bai, but intend to rape Bai • The monk Fahai of the Golden Mountain Monastery • A snake-catcher named Dai hired by Xu’s brother-in-law • Synopsis: • Lady Bai is not an ordinary mortal but a superhuman maiden • She is a snake assuming a human form after thousands of years of self-cultivation in supernatural magic • Her human quality fulfills her passion and gives her temporary happiness, but also makes her suffer

14. The story begins with Xu and Bai’s acquaintance and marriage • Ends with Xu’s use of Fahai’s begging bowl to pin down Bai’s head and make Bai shrink from a monstrous snake into a tiny little snake, which is followed by Fahai’s capture of Little Blue and Xu Xian’s conversion to Buddhism as a Buddhist monk

15. The end of the story: • Xu Xian raises a lot of alms money and makes the pagoda into a beautiful piece of architecture several stories high, thus taming and imprisoning the white snake under it • The white snake can no longer enter the human world for centuries and centuries to come • Monks chant: • Not until the West Lake dries up, • Not until the ripples cease, • Not until the Thunder Peak Pagoda collapses, • Not until then, will the white snake be free.

16. Fahai also composes a poem: • The world should heed my advice: love not the beauty of women, • For beauty casts spells on beauty’s lovers. • Be pure in mind—that will ward off evil spirits; • And behave properly---then no harm can come your way. • Look at Xu Xian---he loved a beautiful woman, • And what was his lot? All trials and tribulations! • If I had not come personally to his rescue, • That snake would have swallowed him, bones and all!

17. Xu Xian, after several years of devotion to Buddhism as a monk, also leaves a poem in these few lines: • My master delivered me from this world of red dust, • Like an iron-tree in blossom, I am finally see spring coming. • As incarnation succeeds incarnation repeatedly, • Life is transformed, life upon life renewed. • In truth, is beauty constant? Or is it vanity? • Know then: that its is formless, yet in various forms appears.

18. Although beauty is vanity, and vanity, beauty, • Between the two, the line should be clearly drawn! • In this narrative, there is neither Buddhist deity nor Daoist deity

19. The Legend of the White Snake---in the form of “Precious Scroll” • Precious Scrolls, emerged in as early as the 13th century as a new literary genre to promote Buddhism • For instance, “Precious Scroll of Maudgalyāyana” and “Compassionate and Precious Scroll of Journey to the West” • From 15th on, religious leaders in Ming and Qing times used this genre to disseminate their teachings

20. Buddhists used it to show the supremacy of Buddhism over other religions/teachings • For instance, “Precious Scroll of Xiangshan or Guanyin” • these were reminiscent of the “transformation texts” used in late Tang

21. The Precious Scroll of Thunder Peak figured most prominently among those precious scrolls propagating Buddhist teachings in Ming times • It’s a prosimetric oral/singing text, alternating between prose and verse • Verses are written in lines of seven-syllable poetic style, each using the same rhyme throughout with some exceptions • Religious pantheons and moral values indicate the trend of “syncretism” of the three teachings, but Buddhism dominates other teachings

22. Divided into two sections: • Section 1: • Lady Bai’s seduction of Xu Xian, • her search for the immortal herb to bring her husband back to life • Her fight with Fahai at the Golden Mountain Monastery • Lady Bai floods the monastery

23. Section 2: • Lady Bai’s imprisonment under Thunder Peak Pagoda by Fahai • Her son, Xu Menjiao discovers his true identity • His attempt to save his mother, leading to her liberation and return to heaven

24. Main Characters: • Xu Xian, the young pharmacy assistant • Lady Bai, a white snake-transformed beautiful widow • Little Blue, a blue carp-transformed beauty • Xu Xian’s sister and brother-in-law, Mr. Li Junfu • A Daoist master who gives Xu amulets • Li Keyong, owner of a pharmacy in Zhenjiang

25. The monk Fahai of the Golden Mountain Monastery • A snake-catcher hired by Xu’s brother-in-law • Buddhist Deities: • Guanyin • The Buddha • Daoist Deities: • Queen Mother of the West • The Old Greybeard (of the Southern Pole Palace) preached the Dharma (p. 32)

26. Eight Immortals • A Divine gardian • Daoist Lishan laomu, Old Mother of Black Mountain, Lady Bai’s master • The Pagoda-Bearing King • The Star of Literature

27. Recurrent Religious themes • Animals practicing self-cultivation for hundreds or thousands of years can attain immortality techniques and become semi-immortals with magic power • Take on a human shape • Ascend and travel on clouds and mists • Call and command the wind and rain • Bodhisattva Guanyin • Rescues Lady Bai and Xu Xian whenever they are in danger • Saves Xu Mengjiao’s life • A deity to whom all will pray • “Tender compassion” is a standard reference to her quality

28. “Red Dust”, a metaphor for the mortal world, or the world of desire and sensual attraction, is unworthy to live in • One will continue suffering and fall into transmigration • Genuine brotherhood and sisterhood exist among animals • Repaying a virtue, a favor as repaying a debt • Lady Bai reveals her true identity/form after drinking a cup of realgar wine • Immortal herbs/elixir and immortal lands exist in human world • A snake-turned human suffers unending tribulations

29. Chan master Fahai and the Golden Mountain Monastery in Zhenjiang • Fahai has his weapons: a “Nine-dragon Chan/Meditation Staff”, a magic begging bowl, and a “demon-binding cord” • He is referred to as “evil monk” several times • Old Mother of Black Mountain in Mt. Emei in Sichuan • The supernatural power of the Dharma is unlimited • The Gate of Emptiness • Star of Letters and other Daoist divinities • animals can attain Buddhahood

30. Xu Xian shaves his head and becomes a monk • Once a person has “ left home/household” for good,on no account wii he return to the life of a layman  • Being a filial son and ascrupulous official can accrue good karma, which can be transferred to posterity  • Rebirth in the western paradise in golden body • Guanyin's manifestation, an old woman • Cinnabar pill used by Guanyin to save Mengjiao's life

31. Earlier Narrative of the White SnakeLegend before Feng’s

32. The West Lake’s Three Stupas, 13th-14th Century • Probably the oldest surviving story of the White Snake woman involving the pagoda near • Protagonist: Xi Xuanzan • Characters: • an old woman (an otter) • a young girl named Mao Nu (Black chicken) • a young woman dressed in white (a snake) • Xi Xuanzan’s uncle, a Daoist priest called Immortal Xi

33. Synopsis: • Xi Xuanzan rescues a strayed young girl named Bai Maonu, and reunites her with her family • Xi meets the young girl's mother, a sensuous woman dressed in white, along with the girl's grandmother, and becomes the lover of the woman clad in white. • The woman customarily kills her previous lover, eating his heart and liver at the sight of the new lover • Xi escapes the same misfortune because the young girl he has recused releases him

34. A Daoist exorcist reveals the true identity of the three women, all of whom are animals-turned-humans • He raises funds to build three stone pagodas by the West Lake. The three demons are subjugated beneath the pagodas • Xi becomes a religious layman.

35. Religiousthemes: • DragonTigerMountainandimmortals • TheFierySpiritLordinaTaishanTemple • DemonicAnimalstransformtohumans • Holywater(符水),actually“talismanwater”

36. The Legend of the White Snake—on Stage

37. The Legend of the white snake on stage • The legend of the white snake is found in the repertoire of virtually all genres of regional opera of recent centuries • Tian Han's adaptation had a great impact on the later reworking of the story • But it had been adapted even earlier, in 16th century • Huang Tubi, Thunder Peak Pagoda, Qing dynasty

38. HuangTubi’sThunderPeakPagoda • BasedprimarilyonFengMenglong’snarrative • Religiousthemes: • A Daoist priest of a Buddhist monasteryusesamulet(talisman) • Demonicaminals-turnedhumans

39. Fang Chengpei’s TPP • Fang Chengpei's Thunder Peak Pagoda, also Qianlong period • Expands Huang Tubi's play, adding the snake's son and his passing of the examinations and becoming the top of the list • Omits scenes including "the theft from the vault", "the banishment","the theft of the kerchief","the announced visit", "the painting of the portrait","the request to the throne"

40. Revised scene:? • Rewritten scene: "water battle" • Added scene: "discussion at night"

41. The virtuous seductress (Yiyao zhuan) • A Tanci adaptation of Feng Menglong's narrative • Bai instructed by Queen Mother of the West to repay Xu's favor in previous life • Brother in law is Chen Biao • Suzhen claims she is Bai Xiuying • Black Storm Great king steals silver and gives Bai, who in turns gives Xu

42. On double-fifth day, Xu forces his wife to drink realgar wine for fear she gets sick, causing Bai to manifest her original shape and frighten Xu to death • Bai goes to Mt. Kunlun to steal immortal herb • Xu is released because of being wronged and returns to Zhenjiang for no reason • Bai is pregnant, the child is incarnation of the star of literature and Fahai's magical weapon cannot harm her • Black Wind joins Bai to fight Fahai, and black wind uses his magic to flood Golden Mountain Monastery, and is killed by the Dragon God

43. Bai and Xu meet at broken bridge In Hangzhou, then go to Xu'x sister's house to await Bai's parturition • Xu Xian enters Nirvana

44. Ma Rufei: The Strange Tale of the Thunder Peak Pagoda (in Tanci singing verse) A shorter version of The Virtuous Seductress Religious themes: Buddhist connection: Thunder Peak Pagoda (Leifengta), Jinshan Monastery, the monk Fahai Daoist Connection: a Daoist priest trained at Mt. Mao, a Daoist Temple named Temple of Patriarch Lű of Undiluted Yang, immortal lad White Crane, The Southern Pole Immortal Greybeard, Golden Mother

45. Other religious themes: Karma Repayment of old favor Daoist’s use of amulet Land of Darkness Immortal medicine, numinous herb The Buddha and the Dharma Mediation staff Computing yin and yang Three Teachings

46. The actors' Thunder Peak Legend • Qianlong period, based on Huang Tubi’s play • Expands Huang Tubi's play, adding the snake's son and his passing of the examinations and becoming the top of the list • Religious themes: • Mt. Emei • Immortal peaches of the Queen Mother of the West • South Pole old Greybeard • Jingci Monastery • Fire of Samadhi • Black Storm Immortal Trayastrimsas Heaven

47. The Legend in “Youth Book” (zidishu)

48. Popular in Beijing by the middle of the 18th century, known as “Banners Tales” • Performed as an opera by younger members of the capital Manchu elite • Texts also circulated in written form as common reading materials • All in seven-syllables verse, but more syllables could be added to enhance emotional and lyrical effects of signing

49. The story is divided into many episodes and performed one single episode at a time • Unlike precious scrolls that focus on moving the story forward, this genre stresses lyrical and descriptive elaboration

50. The episode “The United Bowls” • Religious themes: • The Buddha and the Dharma posses unlimited magical power • The emptiness of the Buddha’s “Way” • Small object (bowl) contains large world “even the heaven” • Reciting Buddha Amitabha’s name; rebirth in the World of Ultimate Bliss (the Land of Utmost Bliss) • Animal can attain Buddhahood