Monster Notes ‖ Beauty Snake (Annotated Edition)

I have written about the most beautiful fairies, mermaids and foxes. This time, a beautiful snake with the same gorgeous logo appeared.

Mr. Lu Xun's article "From Baicaoyuan to San Tan Yin Yue" has a passage about the beautiful snake:

"My eldest mother once told me a story: once upon a time, there was a scholar who lived in an ancient temple and worked hard. In the evening, when he was enjoying the cool in the yard, he suddenly heard someone calling him. I promised, but looking around, I saw a beautiful face on the wall, smiled at him and disappeared. He is very happy; But the old monk who came to talk at night saw through the mechanism. Said there was something fishy on his face, and he must have met a' beautiful snake'; This is a monster with a head and a snake body. It can call people by name. You promised to eat this person's meat at night ... The lesson at the end is: So if a strange voice calls your name, you must never promise him. "

Folklorists study the beauty snake, of course, they should study the White Snake, the most famous beauty snake in China. The conclusion is that the legend of The Legend of the White Snake originated from India, a country that plays with snakes. The Indian story in lamia by British writer Keats spread to Greece in the 2nd century, and to western Europe and China in the12nd century, while Feng Menglong's narrative was only the "lamia" story written by Keats. ②

As we all know, China's beauty snake does not need to be imported. The oldest beauty snake is the ancestor of mankind, Nuwa. "Shan Hai Jing Xi Ye Jing" Guo Pu's note: "Nuwa, an ancient goddess, an emperor, a snake-faced snake body, changes seventy times a day." This image is the same as the beautiful snake that Lu Xun heard when he was a child. Later, Lu Xun described the ancestor of the beautiful snake in his novel "mending the sky" in a rare and charming style:

"Iraq walked to the seaside in this flesh-red world, and the curve of the whole body melted like a pale rose in the faint sea until it became pure white in the middle of the body. The waves were amazing and orderly, but they splashed on Iraq. This pure white shadow vacillates in the sea, as if all are scattered in all directions ... "(3)

The birth of human beings is always related to snakes. In the Bible, human beings came to this world because of snakes, and it is always related to women. The phrase "vigorous snake, auspicious woman" in the Book of Songs regards the appearance of snakes in dreams as a good omen for giving birth to girls. ④

But human beings are always wary of extremely beautiful women, just like the original meaning of the word "charm" is the devil of temptation. The name of the western beauty snake Medusa (5) later means "fatal temptation". This is why the older mother warned the young Lu Xun, "Never promise a stranger your name."

Folks believe that all these attractive (or magical) things are witchcraft, but witchcraft can only be given to someone by knowing their names. Your name is known by the devil, and it is very likely that your fate and soul will be dominated by others. For example, it is recorded in the postscript of Searching for the Gods: Zhou Ziwen, your son in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, likes hunting and often goes into the mountains. Suddenly, a giant turned out of the cave, as white as frost and snow, holding a bow and arrow and shouting, "Mouse!" " Zhou Ziwen's nickname) Zhou Ziwen subconsciously replied, "Here it is." The man pointed a bow at Zhou Ziwen, and Zhou Ziwen fell down ... How similar this scene is to the modern comic book Death Note.

In order to guard against the beautiful snake, Feng Menglong of Ming Dynasty turned it into Fahai and became a joke in the eyes of the world. Now I finally understand why historians always say that the Ming Dynasty was the embryonic stage of capitalism, because there was already "disenchanted" modernity. At that time, people were quite calm about the beautiful snake.

Modern children are fearless. If they listen to the story of their big mother, they will definitely shout: God, give more beautiful spoony little fairies!

[Notes]

① From Lust, Caution to Love

The legend of White Snake, Cowherd and Weaver Girl, Meng Jiangnv's Great Wall Crying, and Liang Zhu, together, are called the four major folklore. However, the story of the legend of the white snake took shape at the latest, and it was first seen in Feng Menglong's "Warning Records", Volume 28 "The White Snake's Yongzheng Leifeng Pagoda". In the story, the white snake is a seductive demon after all. Xu Xuan, the male master, became a monk after being suppressed by Fahai, leaving a cautionary son after his death.

In the early years of the Qing Dynasty, Huang Tu's "Leifeng Pagoda" (see Shanting), or the earliest opera book, only wrote that the white snake was suppressed under the Leifeng Pagoda. More than 20 years later, the old manuscript of Liyuan (probably written by Kunqu artist Chen's father and daughter, and the existing music score is incomplete) is a widely circulated book with the plot of white snake giving birth to children. At this point, the story of the snake spirit has changed from a seductive monster to a sentient and righteous woman.

During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, Fang Chengpei adapted the Legend of Leifeng Pagoda (Shuizhulou) and published 34 volumes. The first volume is "Picking Green, Meeting Boat, Subscribing to the League", the second volume is "Duanyang Begging for Grass", and the third volume is "Chen Chan". Since then, the main outline of the story of The Legend of the White Snake has been basically completed. The book of this play was given by Qianlong during his southern tour, which made it famous and made people from all walks of life know the story of the legend of the White Snake.

From novels in the Ming Dynasty to operas in the late Qing Dynasty, the male master was originally named Xu Xuan, and was renamed Xu Xian in the Republic of China, which has been passed down to this day.

② the origin of white snake

Generally speaking, the origin of the story "Legend of the White Snake" can always be traced back to the legendary "Legend of the White Snake" in the Tang Dynasty.

White Snake, also known as Li Huang, first appeared in Bo in the Tang Dynasty, and was later included in Tai Ping Guang Ji by people in the Song Dynasty. Male master Li Huang, a native of Longxi, is an official family. One day, I saw a woman sitting on an ox cart by the roadside. "The girl in white is elegant and beautiful." She was shocked and went to chat up, only to know that the woman in white was a widow. The two exchanged eyebrows, and Li Huang went to the widow's house in the suburbs ... Of course, it was a good thing. He came back for three days in a row. When I got home, I couldn't afford to get sick, and the servant felt fishy all over. Shortly after his death, his family opened the quilt and saw that only his head was left, and his lower body turned into pus ... He sent people to the suburbs to look for the white widow's yard. There is only a big acacia tree, and the villagers around said that there lived a big white snake on this tree.

The story of the white snake is too concise, and it happened in Chang 'an, so the story of the three pagodas of the West Lake in the Song Dynasty is more like the source of the legend of the white snake.

Xi Xuanzan, the hero of the Three Pagodas of the West Lake (Xi Xuan gradually evolved into Xu Xuan and Xu Xian today). It is said that Xi Xuan Zan was in her twenties. During the period of (1174-1189), a lost girl was rescued by the west lake. Her surname was Bai, and her nickname was Maonv. Soon Mao Nu's family came to find someone, an old woman with goose bumps all over her body. The old woman thanked Xi Xuanzan and invited him to her home. Xi Xuan Zan arrived at the White House, only to know that the owner of the White House was a widowed white widow, who looked like "Lv Yun's hair piled up and the snow condensed." Eyes across the autumn waters, eyebrows inserted in the spring mountains. Peach calyx light makeup, cherry beads light crimson lips. The shoes are lined with small lotus flowers, and the jade finger dew is slender and mushrooming. "... this is not only a thank you, but also a feast. I saw a woman in white talking and laughing, putting a young man on the case, cutting his heart with a knife and giving half to Xi Xuan Zan, which scared Xi Xuan Zan out of her wits. After the banquet, Bai Niangzi said, "I don't have a husband now. I'd rather marry Xuanzang. "Xi xuan complications which dare not from? After living for half a month, xi Xuanzan was sallow and emaciated ... Fortunately, with the help of Mao Nu, he finally managed to escape. It is said that an uncle of Xi Xuanzan, who became a monk in Longhu Mountain, showed great power just after he went down the mountain, and turned the White House back to its original shape-the slave was a crow, the old woman was an otter, and the white snake was a white snake, which was suppressed under the three pagodas of the West Lake (that is, three pools reflecting the moon).

However, before the Tang and Song Dynasties, the event that had a far-reaching impact on China's exotic culture was the introduction of Buddhism in the Eastern Han Dynasty. The ambiguity between man and ghost has turned into a struggle between god and devil, and there is always a face of enlightenment or enlightenment. Therefore, in his book The Legend of the White Snake (Commercial Press, 1938 edition), Mr. Zhao thinks that the Legend of the White Snake has an earlier prototype, which originated in India. Lamia (also translated as Lamia) is a long poem written by British poet Keats according to Greek legend, which tells the story of a snake charmer who fell in love with a handsome man and was exposed by a wise man. It is a variant of the legend of the white snake spread from India to the west.

(3) Lu Xun's mending the sky.

On June 1922 1 1, Lu Xun wrote "No Mountain" as the finale of the collection of short stories "Scream", which was later accepted as "Mending the Sky" by New Stories.

New Stories is an anomaly in Lu Xun's novels, with mysterious brain holes, jumping thinking and magnificent language ... But Lu Xun himself seems not satisfied, saying that "the opinion at that time was to take themes from ancient and modern times to make short stories", but "from serious to slick". The so-called flashy, that is, Lu Xun could not help but say some strange words that alluded to the current situation, and it is still vivid today.

Nu Wa, who is sexy and naked in the novel, feels bored and makes people, feels novel and feels the joy of the creator. But before long, she found a little man between her hips, muttering about others. Maybe everyone likes to do this kind of thing. Nu Wa is very annoyed. How can I create such selfish and trivial things? I suddenly feel bored and don't want to have children. However, Nu Wa came out to save the world until her death ... Just after her death, a tiger came under the banner of Nu Wa Group and camped on her stomach. Because it is the fattest and the most plump place. It seems a little funny, but when you think about it carefully, it reveals cruelty: Nu Wa is the mother of mankind, but people even want to use her body, and she is also a loyal heir under the banner of "lineal". The magnificent scenes and gorgeous colors at the beginning of the novel have become absurd, and there is an unspeakable sadness behind the absurdity.

④ Semiotics of snakes.

In many religions, myths and literature, snakes usually represent fertility or the power to create life. Because snakes can shed their skin, they also become symbols of regeneration, transformation, immortality and healing. Ouroborosaurus is a symbol handed down from ancient times. The general image is that a snake (or dragon) is swallowing its own tail and creating a circle, which is the spiritual embodiment of the concept of cosmic circulation. In Norse mythology, Jormungandr is a giant snake with a long tail, which surrounds the whole human world.

In Abraham's religion, snakes symbolize sexual desire. According to Jewish tradition, the snake in the Garden of Eden is indeed a symbol of sexual desire.

In Hinduism, kundalini is a curly snake, which is considered as the source of tangible vitality and sexual strength.

In Buddhism, snakes are regarded as guardians of temples or holy places. Legend has it that when the Buddha began to meditate and sat quietly under the bodhi tree, it was dark for seven days and it was raining heavily, so Muzhen's neighbor Tuo came out of the ground to protect the Buddha.

In China, snakes are regarded as the low-order existence of dragons. The so-called Fuxi Nuwa is a snake, not a dragon, so as to understand the meaning of "descendants of the dragon".

⑤ Medusa

Medusa is a complete tragedy.

Medusa was originally a priestess of Athena Temple. Athena is the only abstinence god among the Greek gods, so her priestess should remain chaste all her life.

Medusa has a beautiful face, which is favored by Poseidon. Poseidon intended to use force, and Medusa ran into Athena's temple to beg for shelter, but Poseidon's transformed bird was deprived of her virginity in the temple.

Athena saw her priest having sex with animals in her temple (Athena shouldn't have realized that the bird was her uncle Poseidon) ... She was furious and cursed-every man who saw Medusa's face would turn to stone, and Medusa's hair would turn into a crawling snake. From then on, the terrible Medusa was exiled to the end of the underworld, and was finally killed by the Greek hero Poerxiusi, and her head was cut off.

6. Witchcraft of names.

The essence of witchcraft is association, emphasizing various associations. For example, a person's name is associated with soul and destiny.

Ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign, there are spells about names (such as calling souls), and the principle is similar. In the past, children in rural areas only took nicknames and cheap names, and formal names were only taken when they entered school or were naturalized in genealogy, only to support themselves. Because the child's mortality rate was too high at that time, it was understood that the child was cursed by the enemy or evil spirits. If the child doesn't have a formal name, cursing will be impossible.

One of the most humorous scenes in Journey to the West is that King Yinjiao asks the Monkey King with a purple, gold and red gourd: "I call you, do you dare to promise?" The Monkey King made up a series of pseudonyms to deal with.