In the first part of this two-part article, we learned about the stories of "孟姜女哭长城 (Mèng Jiāng Nǚ Kū ChángChéng) Lady Meng Jiang’s Bitter Weeping" and "梁山伯与祝英台 (Liáng Shānbó Yǔ Zhù Yīngtái) The Butterfly Lovers."

While in today’s second half, we will go over the remaining two legends, "白蛇传 (BáiShé Zhuàn) Legend of Lady White Snake" and "牛郎织女 (NiúLángZhīNǚ) the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl," which will complete our four mythological love stories series.

白蛇传 (BáiShé Zhuàn) Legend of Lady White Snake

This story is a little more steeped in ancient Chinese philosophy and therefore is a little more "复杂 (fùzá) complex." There is a very famous traditional Chinese folklore that has a close connection to the Dragon Boat Festival and it goes like this.

"很久以前 (Hěn jiǔ yǐqián) Once upon a time," it was said that Bai Suzhen was a snake demon of the Millennium Development. In order to repay Xu Xian for saving her life 500 years prior, she decided to couple with Xu Xian. Then she descended to the world and "结婚 (jiéhūn) get married," living together happily.

However, after they married, the monk, Fa Hai, from Jin Shan Temple told Xu Xian that Bai SuZhen was a snake demon. Xu Xian was a little skeptical and decided to let his wife drink the regular wine according to Fa Hai’s instruction for the Dragon Boat Festival.

Bai Suzhen had to show her original shape and Xu Xian was scared to death. She then stole fairy grass from paradise to save her husband’s life. Later on, Fa Hai "欺骗 (qīpiàn) deceived" Xu Xian, taking him to Jin Shan Temple and putting him under house arrest.

Bai Suzhen and her follower Xiao Qing fought with Fa Hai. They used magic and their powers to bring disastrous water overflowing to Jin Shan Temple, thus hurting other innocent creatures in effect. Therefore, Bai Suzhen, in violation of the laws of God in heaven, was crushed under the Lei Feng Tower after giving birth to a child.

牛郎织女 (NiúLángZhīNǚ) the Cowherd And the Weaver Girl

This next story comes from the "星座 (xīngzuò) constellations Altair and Vega" and is about a "牛郎 (Niúláng) cow herd" and a "织女 (Zhīnǚ) weaver girl."

The "牛郎 (Niúláng) cow herd" was out in the fields one day when he heard the goddesses playing in the river. He immediately fell in love with our main character "织女 (Zhīnǚ) weaver girl" and they had two children together.

Unfortunately, the head Goddess of the Milky Way was angered by "织女 (Zhīnǚ) weaver girl" not doing her weaving job and getting married to a normal person and then, therefore "分开 (fēnkāi) separated them by a big river. They were only "允许 (yǔnxǔ) allowed" to see each other on the 7th day of the 7th month on "鹊桥 (quèqiáo) the bridge formed by magpies" every year.

Read a Chinese Story About 七夕节 (Qīxī jié) Double Seven Festival

It is a beautiful love story of enduring love for one another, even though long-term separation.

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