A Study on the Adaptation of Legend of the White Snake in Chinese Feudal Society

Abstract

This paper focuses on one of the most famous Chinese folktales, The Legend of the White Snake, under the Chinese feudal society. By studying the adaptation of the folktale in different ancient Chinese dynasties, this paper aims to reveal the continuous oppression of women resulting from Confucian values, which is typically reflected by the depiction of the White Snake’s image. The paper will also analyze the relation between the story adaptation and different social customs to find out the reason behind the adaptation and the situation of women it indicates.