Xiaoqing (character)

Xiaoqing (Chinese: 小青; lit. 'Little Qing') or Qingqing (Chinese: 青青) is a mythological figure in Chinese folk religion. She is one of the protagonists of the Legend of the White Snake, one of China's "four great folktales".[1]

Xiaoqing
Statue of Xiaoqing as depicted in Beijing Opera
First appearanceLegend of the White Snake
In-universe information
FamilyBai Suzhen (sworn sister)
Xu Xian (brother-in-law)
ReligionTaoism
HomeMount Emei
Xiaoqing
Chinese小青
Qingqing
Chinese青青
Qingmei
Chinese青妹
Qing'er
Traditional Chinese青兒
Simplified Chinese青儿

The popular film Green Snake features Xiaoqing as the main character.[2] It is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Lilian Lee, published in 1993.[3]

Legends

Xiaoqing is a green snake who transforms into a human being after five hundred years of disciplined training in Taoism.[4] Xiaoqing is the close confidant or sworn sister of the protagonist Bai Suzhen,[5] the white snake. Bai Suzhen often calls her Qingmei (青妹, lit. '[Little] Sister Qing') or Qing'er (青兒, lit. 'Child Qing').

After Fahai pushed Bai Suzhen down under the Leifeng Pagoda, Xiaoqing was no match for Fahai, and had no choice but to retreat to Mount Emei, go back into the cave and return to practicing Daoist austerities. Twelve years later, she had finally completed the True Fire of Samadhi, and came to find Fahai for revenge. There was nowhere for Fahai to escape being burned by the True Fire of Samadhi, so in a great rush, he hid inside a crab shell. Leifang Pagoda collapsed, and Bai Suzhen was saved. From then on, she and Bai Suzhen, Xu Xian and their child all lived a blessed and happy life together.

Xiaoqing's fate varies depending on the preference of the storyteller. In some versions, Xiaoqing and Bai Suzhen are fused together in the Leifeng Pagoda; in others, Xiaoqing marries Xu Xian (or a friend of his) and has a son, Xu Rulin. Sometimes it is said she never married, instead devoting herself to neidan, and in an even more extreme variation, she is portrayed as a treacherous antagonist who betrays Bai Suzhen. However, in almost all versions, Xiaoqing finally becomes a deity.[6][7]

In another version of the story, after years of refining her powers, Xiaoqing goes to Jinshan Temple to confront Fahai and ultimately defeats him. As a result, Bai Suzhen is finally freed from Leifeng Pagoda and reunited with her husband and son. Meanwhile, Fahai flees and hides inside the stomach of a crab. There is a saying that a crab's internal fat is orange because it resembles the color of Fahai's kasaya.

Worship

Located in Jizhou, Tianjin, the White Snake Cave is where the statues of Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing stand as deities. Legend has it that the White Snake and Green Snake practiced Taoism within this cave.[8]

Influence
Further information: List of media adaptations of the Legend of the White Snake
  • Exhibit in the Sichuan Provincial Museum
    Exhibit in the Sichuan Provincial Museum
  • Statues of Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing
    Statues of Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing
  • Picture on the long veranda in the Summer Palace, Beijing, China
    Picture on the long veranda in the Summer Palace, Beijing, China
  • Statues of the three protagonists in the Peking opera
    Statues of the three protagonists in the Peking opera

See also

References
  1. Shepard, Aaron (2001). Lady White Snake : a tale from Chinese opera = [Bai She Chuan]. Union City, CA: Pan Asian Publications. ISBN 9781572270725.
  2. "The Green Snake hits Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. 19 March 2013.
  3. "Green Snake premieres in DC; an enchanting mystery". China Daily. 28 March 2014.
  4. Seal, Graham (2001). Encyclopedia of Folk Heroes. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-57607-216-5.
  5. "Unraveling the myths and charms of snakes". China Daily. 6 February 2013.
  6. Women in Chinese folktales (1st ed.). Beijing, China: Women of China. 1983. ISBN 9780835111720.
  7. 中國文化集刊. Chinese Cultural Research Institute. 1997.
  8. "天津蓟县白蛇谷风景区里面的风景，不仅奇险，而且充满了神秘色彩". 知乎专栏 (in Chinese). 12 November 2022.
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