Imagine this. You take a bite from the king’s dish which is a white snake. Then suddenly you start understanding the language of animals. And this gets you out of numerous problems. Does it sound believable? Well it should because this is what the servant in our story experienced. However what are those troubles that he found himself in? Could he really understand all animals and how did this help him? If a servant takes a bite from the king’s dish, you would expect punishment to follow. Did it? Or the servant got a reward? If you want to know how and why, you can read "The White Snake". Children and adults alike, immerse yourselves into Grimm’s world of folktales and legends! Come, discover the little-known tales and treasured classics in this collection of 200 fairytales. Brothers Grimm are probably the best-known storytellers in the world. Some of their most popular fairy tales are "Cinderella", "Beauty and the Beast" and "Little Red Riding Hood" and there is hardly anybody who has not grown up with the adventures of Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel and Snow White. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm’s exceptional literature legacy consists of recorded German and European folktales and legends. Their collections have been translated into all European languages in their lifetime and into every living language today.

Based on an ancient Chinese legend in which a snake spirit transforms herself into a beautiful woman in order to experience the human world.

Tracing the history and adaptation of one of China's foundational 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 Tale of the White Snake is one of the most beloved myths in China. For thousands of years, Chinese children sat on the knees of their mothers or grandmothers and enjoyed listening to these fascinating tales. The story: A female white snake was saved by the kindness of a young men, from ending up as a gourmet dish on someone's dinner table. Wishing to repay him, she prayed to Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy for guidance. Guanyin gave her a small green snake as companion and sent them both to Mount Ormei for training.....to evolve into human forms. A thousand years passed. The white snake finally found the reincarnation of her rescuer.....