Skip to main content

The Chinese myth of the immortal white snake - Shunan Teng

6,042,402 Views

12,792 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

The talented herbalist Xu Xian had just started his own medicine shop where he created remedies with the help of his wife, Bai Su Zhen. One day a monk named Fa Hai approached him, warning him that there was a demon in his house. The demon, he said, was Bai Su Zhen. Xu Xian laughed. How could his kind-hearted wife be a demon? Shunan Teng traces the tale of the immortal white snake.

Why did Bai Su Zhen want to sacrifice herself to save Xu Xian?

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Shunan Teng
  • Director Steff Lee
  • Narrator Pen-Pen Chen
  • Animator Jack Ross
  • Sound Designer Gav Cantrell
  • Composer Gav Cantrell
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Associate Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma

More from Myths From Around the World