Study On The "White Snake" Story Based On The History And Culture Of Zhenjiang

The Legend of White Snake is one of "the four most popular folk legends", which has been experienced more than eight hundred years and penetrated the heart of many generations. As a wonderful non-substance culture heritage, it brought immeasurable value on many aspects. Along with the passing ages, the experts' research and the depiction in folk has made a special culture of white snake. This paper emphasizes on systematical research of the "white snake legend" from the aspects of the protection and passing down the non-substance culture heritage, based on the history and culture of Zhenjiang.The main content of the first chapter pays on the formation and changing of white snake story. The formation of the story is very complicated, and it covers a wider area. As far as the art forms related to be concerned, it has variety of art forms, such as: ancient literature, the theatre and folk literature, etc. Based on the "four developing stage", the author analyses the evolvement before the story came into formation, and the modern works, then give a total vicissitude process of the "white snake legend" story. It is clear that the story has its people's psychology origination, and derives from the fork custom legend of the Hangzhou and Zhenjiang in Tang dynasty. The present edition has been developed more than eight hundred years.In chapter two and three, the author analyses the origination of the white snake legend from the two aspects, which includes the historical origin and the Zhenjiang's custom. From a great deal of the reference literature and spot textual research, the paper casts back the ancestor's totem adoration, and the historical background of Zhenjiang's gestating the white snake legend, so as the notable matching between the legend and the custom, place, name of people in Zhenjiang. The author comes to the conclusion that Zhenjiang should be one of the reasonable origination for the white snake legend and the place where main scenario happened.In chapter four, this paper discusses the value system of national non-substance culture heritage and the question of its handing on and protection. From its broadcasting domestic and overseas, the author believes that the value of white snake legend embody on the literary, history, folk religion culture, social and economic. On the basis of the handing on and protection in Zhenjiang, the author put up some practical advice on the new way of handing on and the construction of journey economic circle of white snake culture.