The Chinese myth of the immortal white snake - Shunan Teng

Dive into the world of Chinese folktales with the myth of the white snake, a story of the demon Bai Su Zhen and her love, Xu Xian. (Part One of the myth of the white snake).

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The talented herbalist Xu Xian had just started his own medicine shop where he created remedies with the help of his wife, Bai Su Zhen. One day a monk named Fa Hai approached him, warning him that there was a demon in his house. The demon, he said, was Bai Su Zhen. Xu Xian laughed. How could his kind-hearted wife be a demon? Shunan Teng traces the tale of the immortal white snake.

Lesson by Shunan Teng, directed by Kino Bino.

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[TEDEd]

What comes next for Bai Su Zhen and Xu Xian? Will they live happily ever after? Or will Fa Hai finally get his way? Subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss part two of this saga!

[tiaaday]

A little out of topic but i really like the way she read the character's name perfectly with the accent.

[crazyfangirl]

"demon or not, he was still happy to see his wife" now THAT'S love

[roseflorintine]

The animation feels like a tribute to Chinese shadow puppetry, how nice!

[dreamxiong]

So, in other words, her husband wouldn’t have died if a monk would have minded his own business.

[renrn]

*Xu Xian:* Trust your loving trophy wife.

*Inner Xu Xian:* Give her funky wine from a gossipy monk you only met once.

[SunScourge]

A myth where snakes are benevolent, women are heroic, love persuades authority and wins out over fear? Oh, I love this. <3

[SuLGamin]

The monk almost killed an innocent man and a helpful snake who saved them from the plague smh

[misterminutes]

The fact that they already met in their past-life makes this romance story more romantic ❤️

[kyles.]

you know a video is high quality when the narrator pronounces the foreign names correctly.

[vynti]

THEY WAY SHE PRONOUNCES THE NAME CORRECTLY MADE ME WIGGLY JIGGLY MY LIFE

[Kevin-tkwb]

Every tale: Man saves wife
Chinese tale: Wife saves man

[musicalfyme]

What I love about this tale is that it makes us think. Looking at monk Fa Hai’s intentions, it was not that of malice. He was genuinely concerned for Xu Xian and as a monk/demon slayer he felt obligated to help since at the end of the day, she was more or less “a snake demon” so to speak. Then on the other hand, you have Bao Xu Zhen... She might be “a snake demon” and her love with a human was considered unnatural but she also didn’t mean any harm to him or anyone else.

[junaidjavidan]

she protecc
she attacc
but most importantly







she got his husband bacc on the tracc

[pranushaaa]

Before I saw you I meditated for a thousand years, but those thousand years are worth less than a moment with you.
Beautiful 💞

[andromeda]

Xu Xian and Bai Su Zhen:exists
Monk:I am about to end this snake's whole career

[SpectrumDT]

Wow, it even has a happy ending? I was certain it was going to end tragically.

I really appreciate that the narratrix can pronounce the Chinese names (at least it sounds right to me) instead of just barking out some nonsense like many people do. :D

[mirandaeira]

As a chinese, I am in utter happiness to see a traditional folklore that has been translated into many movies become a Ted-ed video.Not to mention, the chinese pronounciation is accurate.😍😍

Edit: Thanks for the 990 likes!!!

[angeleyes]

I must say that this is one of the RARE happy female demon married to a human love story from the asian region. I love those stories but most end up sad with the man treating the wife badly after finding out she isn't human

[zuko]

Bai Su Zhen: Babe, I have a confession to make...

Xu Xian: What is it honey

Bai Su Zhen: _Well, I'm actually an immortal snake with formidable magical powers_