Cross-Text Research On He Xiangu’s Story

He Xiangu is the only female immortal in the Eight Immortals with the special status of a savior of the world.The story of He Xiangu has been widely spread and retold throughout the development of Taoism.Her importance within the Eight Immortals can be attributed not only to her distinct characteristics and rich aesthetic connotations,but also to her ability to adapt to the changing times and meet the needs of rulers and people.As one of the stories of the Eight Immortals,the story of He Xiangu has been adapted in different texts of various periods.Throughout its development and evolution,the content and character image of the story gradually became more enriched and vivid,forming He Xiangu’s personal symbol as well as exerting new influence on the culture of the Eight Immortals.This paper is divided into four chapters.The first chapter examines the origin and evolution of the story of He Xiangu during the Tang and Song dynasties.He Xiangu’s story mainly exists in literary and historical works of the Tang and Song dynasties,and her character embodies the image of a female witch who combines both witchcraft and Daoism.Through analyzing the story of He Xiangu in poetry and paintings,it can be observed that her popularity during this time was largely influenced by the rise of folk beliefs in female immortals and people’s quest for spiritual sustenance.The second chapter analyzes the story of He Xiangu in Ming and Qing Dynasty novels and oral literature.There are numerous novels about the Eight Immortals in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.The story of He Xiangu in these novels mainly portrays a secular,religious,and heroic female fairy image,and analyzes the narrative art of He Xiangu’s ballad novel The Story of the Eight Immortals from the perspective of narrative studies.In oral literature,Taoists rely on the story of He Xiangu to promote their teachings,enhance religious connotations,and systematically teach folk religious theories,add the concept of karmic retribution from Buddhism,and strengthen the theme of urging people to cultivate themselves.The diversity in theme benefits the widespread dissemination of the story’s various themes in the folk.The third chapter explores the adaptation of the story of He Xiangu in local operas.Starting with the Taiwanese Gezia opera He Xiangu,the development of the He Xiangu story enters a new phase.The unique singing style and new plot twists infuse the legendary story with new vitality,and the incorporation of romantic elements brings a fresh perspective that captures audiences’ attention.The protagonist He Xiangu is more prominent,and her image transforms from a common folk woman in the past to a confidante of Empress Wu Zetian.Similarly,in the Hunan Huagu opera He Xiangu,the concept of filial piety is highlighted,and there is a trend of secularization in He Xiangu’s character portrayal.The fourth chapter explores the television adaptations and folk dissemination of the story of He Xiangu.With the advancements in modern media technology,the traditional folk tales and literary texts about He Xiangu have been adapted into television shows and movies.These adaptations bring the original story to life on screen,making it more vivid and interesting,while also catering to the aesthetic needs of contemporary audiences.As a result,the themes and meanings presented in the story have become increasingly rich and diverse.He Xiangu,with her positive and proactive image,has become a legendary figure,and the Eight Immortals culture,in which she is a central component,has sparked a new cultural vitality due to her transcendent aesthetic consciousness.