Lady White Snake: A Tale From Chinese Opera

Lady White is a thousand-year-old snake who, through centuries of meditation and self-discipline, has managed to attain human form. On a visit to China's famous West Lake, she falls in love with a young man and soon becomes his wife. But when a Buddhist abbot discovers her true origin, she must fight for both her marriage and her freedom.

From one of the most popular of Chinese operas comes this tale of love and courage in the face of blind intolerance. Accompanied by illustrations depicting traditional costumes and staging, this retelling brings to life a timeless legend and a classic art form.

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN SEVERAL EDITIONS: ENGLISH ONLY, ENGLISH/SPANISH, ENGLISH/VIETNAMESE, AND ENGLISH/CHINESE (TRADITIONAL), AND ALSO AS AN ANIMATED DVD.

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Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen," "The Sea King's Daughter," "The Adventures of Mouse Deer," and many more children's books. His stories have appeared often in Cricket magazine, while his Web site is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater.

Song Nan Zhang is a fine-art painter, author, and illustrator who was born in China but now lives in Canada. His first children's book won Canada's prestigious Mr. Christie Book Award. His background for this book includes being married to an amateur performer in Chinese opera.

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SAMPLE

The newlyweds decided to move to the city of Zhenjiang and open an herb shop of their own. The shop was a great success, for Lady White could tell just what was wrong with a patient and just what compound to prescribe. What's more, she showed great dedication in helping the sick, no matter how poor.

The two were supremely happy with their work and with each other. Adding to their joy, Lady White soon announced she was expecting a child.

One day when Lady White had gone off to rest, an old Buddhist monk entered the shop and spoke to Xu Xian. "I am Fahai, the abbot of Gold Mountain Temple," he said. "I have come to warn you of a great danger. By my spiritual powers, I have discovered that your wife is a thousand-year-old snake. She hides her true nature for now, but one day she will surely turn on you and devour you."

"How dare you say that!" said the young man. "It's nothing but wicked slander!"

But Fahai told him, "Just make sure she drinks realgar wine for the Dragon Boat Festival. She'll change back then to her true form, and you'll see for yourself."

Author Aaron Shepard came upon the White Snake legend while traveling in Taiwan and immediately fell in love with it. Before even beginning to rewrite it, he spent a year of intense research on this 800-year-old story, and on Chinese opera (as the abundant notes in this book show). Artist Song Nan Zhang has also immersed himself in the traditions of Chinese opera and celebrates this in these beautiful, detailed scenes that are like flights of theatric imagination made vivid.