The Lunar New Year is just around the corner, and the animal set to represent and guide 2025 is the snake. Contrary to its common associations with deceit, sneakiness, and treachery, the snake, as one of the twelve sacred animals in the traditional zodiac cycle, symbolizes wisdom, prudence, and the energy of a bold new beginning.
There is a saying in Korea: “A snake in the hole has a length that cannot be known,” meaning that one cannot truly measure the extent of another’s wealth or capabilities. This imagery perfectly captures the essence of a coiled snake in its lair, revealing nothing about its intentions or potential. As the snake becomes the astronomical symbol for the year 2025, one cannot help but wonder: what might be the proper well-wishing remarks for this Lunar New Year? “Be cagey like a snake and prosper”?
Of course, the cultural symbolism of the snake is far more nuanced than this. One compelling example is the classic film Madam White Snake (1960), which portrays the snake as a seductress, a devoted wife, a healer, and a committed Buddhist. Based on the Chinese folktale The Legend of the White Snake, the story follows a thousand-year-old snake that yearns to live among humans. Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of infinite mercy and compassion, grants the snake this wish, allowing it to descend to earth. Taking the form of a woman, the snake adopts the identity of a widow named Madam Baek (a name that means “white”) and wins over a young man, leading him to her marital bed.
One Story Three Different Films
The mythological narrative of the thousand-year-old snake inspired three films from the 1960s in Northeast Asia, including Madam White Snake. Although they share the same English title, the other two films—one produced in Japan and the other in Hong Kong—differ slightly in tone as reflected in their titles. The Japanese title translates roughly to The Wicked Love of the White Snake, while the Hong Kong version adheres closely to The Legend of the White Snake.
a magical house, an illusion she conjures. Below is the Japanese version, released in 1956.
Released in 1956, the Japanese film focuses on the female guile of the snake-turned-woman, emphasizing themes of seduction and deception. In contrast, the Hong Kong adaptation highlights Confucian morality, portraying the snake as ultimately transformed into a virtuous woman who fulfills her familial duties and overcomes beastly desires.
The Korean adaptation of the mythology begins with the snake as a temptress but ultimately portrays her as a symbol of self-sacrifice and love that defies adversity. Madam Baek faces a monumental challenge when the entire town is struck by a mysterious disease. The town’s governor employs a powerful shaman to uncover the source of the plague. The shaman senses an ominous aura surrounding an unnatural being and focuses his investigation on Madam Baek and her husband, who runs a small herbal medicine shop.
Although her true identity remains hidden, Madam Baek realizes it is only a matter of time before it is exposed. Determined to protect her husband and save the townspeople, she decides to procure a life-saving herb from the bodhisattva. However, this act comes at a great cost: she must forfeit her place in the human world. Madam Baek sacrifices her blissful life on earth to save her husband from becoming a scapegoat and to cure the town’s afflicted residents.
A Common Theme of Transformative Animals
The theme of an animal transforming into a human is a common motif in Korean folktales and mythology. In fact, Koreans trace their ancestry to a bear who became a woman after enduring a one-hundred-day diet of garlic and mugwort in a cave without sunlight. However, this type of story—distinct from tales where humans turn into animals due to a curse—aligns more closely with the concepts of reincarnation and Buddhist epiphany. In these traditions, beings can take on new life forms in subsequent stages of existence, and reaching the highest level of humanity is attainable for any creature.
Madam Baek, though born a mere snake, assumes a human form and ascends to the noble heights of humanity. In the Year of the Snake, 2025, the transformative nature of the snake should serve as a meaningful reminder of resilience through the ups and downs of the year. Transformation often requires perseverance and adaptability, qualities embodied by Madam White Snake. A well-wishing remark for this Lunar New Year? How about wishing for positive growth and transformation in any form, for everyone?