The Legend of White Snake 白蛇传传说

时间：2006年
Date: 2006
类别：民间文学
Category: Folklore Literature
地区：江苏，浙江
Region: Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province
编号：Ⅰ—6
Project No. I-6
申报地区或单位：江苏省镇江市
浙江省杭州市
Name of Applicant (region or institution):
Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province
Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province
浙江省杭州市白蛇传传说是我国民间文学中的一颗璀璨明珠，所塑造的白娘子、许仙、法海和小青等人物形象，表达了广大人民对人性解放的渴望，是中华民族宝贵的精神文化遗产。传说中所保留的大量古代传统习俗，使白蛇传成为我国民俗文化信息最为丰富的口头遗产之一。
The Legend of White Snake of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province is a shining pearl of Chinese folklore literature. The characters of Lady in White, Xu Xian, Fa Hai, and Xiaoqing that are created in it serve to express the longing of the masses for liberation of humanity and the works makes up one of the precious spiritual relics of Chinese nation. The ancient traditions and custom handed down in the story enable the legend to loom as one of the relics that contain the richest information of Chinese folk culture.
白蛇传传说肇始于唐五代时期，基本成型于南宋，至迟到元代已被文人编成杂剧和话本。明代冯梦龙编纂的拟话本《白娘子永镇雷峰塔》是该传说最早的较为完整的文本。明清以降至于现当代，民间的口头文学与各类俗文艺的改编、搬演相互渗透、相互融合，使白蛇传最终成为故事、歌谣、宝卷、小说、演义、话本、戏曲、弹词，以及电影、电视、动漫、舞蹈、连环画等各种文艺形式的经典题材。其影响不断扩大，最终流布全国，家喻户晓，并远播日本、朝鲜、越南、印度等许多国家。
The Legend of White Snake started in the five periods of Tang Dynasty and basically took shape in South Song Dynasty and was adapted into variety play and script for story-telling in as late as Yuan Dynasty. The script imitation The Lady in White Weighing down the Leifeng Pagoda compiled by Feng Menglong in the Ming Dynasty is the earliest complete version. From Ming and Qing Dynasties down to the present, there have appeared the mutual influence and merger of the adaption and stage performance of dictation folk literature and various folk literature and art. Consequently, the Legend of White Snake evolved into classical materials for various literary forms including story, ballad, scroll, fiction, romance, script, traditional opera, fiddle ballad and film, TV play, cartoon, dance, and comic picture book. Its influence was still spreading till it reached all parts of the country so that almost every household began to know it. And it even became known overseas including Japan, Korea, Viet Nam, India, etc.
民间传说常常出现“多源”现象，白蛇传传说亦然。民间文学专家认为，镇江、杭州是这一传说的重要流传地。白蛇传传说流传地区广泛，与梁祝传说、孟姜女传说、牛郎织女传说并列为汉民族流传较广的四大传说。
In folktales often occurs the phenomenon of multiple sources and the same is true of the legend. Experts of folk literature believe that Zhenjiang and Hangzhou are the major area of circulation of this legend. So wide has the Legend of White Snake spread that it ranks one of the four most-widespread legends of Han Nationality, the other three being the Legend of Butterfly Lovers, the Legend of Lady Meng Jiang, and the Legend of Cowherd and Girl Weaver.
白蛇传极大地丰富了中国民间文艺的宝库。它故事奇崛，人物生动丰满，其中的白娘子是中国艺术长廊中一个重要的典型形象。传说所反映出的南宋以来不同时期的主要社会思想、信仰与价值观及民族深层心理，有重要的历史价值。白蛇传中的民风民俗内容也极其丰富，对了解江南的风土人情有重要的参考价值。而对于这一传说主要的发生地杭州而言，白蛇传与断桥、雷峰塔及西湖等自然和文化景观形成了密不可分的关系，使杭州和西湖都具有了更为丰厚的文化内涵。
The Legend of White Snake has enriched enormously the treasure house of Chinese folk literature and art with thrilling plots and vivid characters. In particular, the Lady in White has become an important model in the corridor of Chinese art. The social thinking, beliefs, concept of values, and the deep psyche of ethnicity since the South Song Dynasty revealed in the legend are of great historical value. Also, the custom and habits are also abundant in the legend, providing a reference of value in understanding the custom and social practice of the south of Changjiang River. As for the major place of source Hangzhou, the legend has an indispensible bond with the natural and cultural landscapes including the broken bridge, Leifeng Pagoda, and West Lake, allowing Hangzhou and the West Lake to possess a richer cultural reserve.