The White Snake and her Son: a translation of The Precious Scroll of Thunder Peak, with related texts

A cornerstone of Chinese popular culture, the legend of the White Snake--the admirable demon who loves her victim--has been continually rewritten, reinterpreted, and readapted for over five hundred years. The Precious Scroll of Thunder Peak was one of the most popular nineteenth-century versions of the legend. In bringing together translations of the Scroll , four anonymous youth books, and other texts related to the development of the White Snake legend, this volume opens a window into the richness and variety of premodern Chinese popular literature. It also illustrates the ways in which traditional and modern Chinese societies have treated a host of vital cultural issues, including the role of women in society, perceptions of sexuality, and folk religion. Wilt L. Idema's Introduction traces the evolution of the legend and places the translated texts in the history of Chinese popular literature and culture. Annotations explaining terms and references that may be unfamiliar to Western readers, a glossary, and a thorough bibliography further enhance the value of this book for both scholars and students. A cornerstone of Chinese popular culture, the legend of the White Snake--the admirable demon who loves her victim--has been continually rewritten, reinterpreted, and readapted for over five hundred years. The Precious Scroll of Thunder Peak was one of the most popular nineteenth-century versions of the legend. In bringing together translations of the Scroll, four anonymous youth books, and other texts related to the development of the White Snake legend, this volume opens a window into the richness and variety of premodern Chinese popular literature. It also illustrates the ways in which traditional and modern Chinese societies have treated a host of vital cultural issues, including the role of women in society, perceptions of sexuality, and folk religion. -- Amazon.com The Story Of The White Snake / Ma Rufei -- The Precious Scroll Of Thunder Peak, I / Anonymous -- The Precious Scroll Of Thunder Peak, Ii / Anonymous -- Four Anonymous Youth Books (zidishu). The United Bowls -- Sacrifice At The Pagoda -- Weeping At The Pagoda -- Leaving The Pagoda -- Appendixes. Li Huang And Other Classical Tales Of Bewitching Snakes -- Westlake Monsters -- The White Snake On Stage -- The Virtuous Seductress -- The Elder Brother Of Zheng Defeats Duan In Yan. Edited And Translated, With An Introduction, By Wilt L. Idema. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 161-167). The story of the white snake / Ma Rufei The precious scroll of thunder peak, I / Anonymous The precious scroll of thunder peak, II / Anonymous Four anonymous youth books (zidishu). The united bowls Sacrifice at the pagoda Weeping at the pagoda Leaving the pagoda Appendices. "Li Huang" and other tales of bewitching snakes Westlake monsters The white snake on stage The virtuous tempress The elder brother of Zheng defeats Duan in Yan. A cornerstone of Chinese popular culture, the legend of the White Snake the admirable demon who loves her victim has been continually rewritten, reinterpreted, and readapted for over five hundred years. This title opens a window into the variety of pre-modern Chinese popular literature.