| Xu Shilin | |
|---|---|
 Xu Shilin pay respects to his mother, rescuing her and ascending to Heaven | |
| First appearance | Legend of the White Snake |
| In-universe information | |
| Occupation | Scholar-official |
| Family | Bai Suzhen (mother) Xu Xian (father) |
| Spouse | Hu Meiniang |
| Home | Qiantang County, Zhejiang |
Xu Shilin (許士林), known as Xu Mengjiao (许梦蛟) in some versions, is a Chinese mythological figure, son of the white snake spirit Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian. He is a major character in the Legend of the White Snake, one of four great Chinese folk tales. The story has been adapted many times, including into Chinese operas, films, television series and other media.
The story of Xu Shilin Rescued His Mother is separate from the main legend of the White Snake and has become a well-known folktale in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. His legend is so popular throughout China that there's a common saying: "A child who fulfills the gratitude of their parents is like Xu Shilin, who demonstrated great filial piety to his mother".
Legends
Legend has it that he is an incarnation of the Wenquxing (Astral God of Civil Arts). Bai Suzhen was defeated and imprisoned in the imposing Leifeng Pagoda by Fahai. While imprisoned, Bai Suzhen gave birth to a son named Shilin. In an alternate version of the story, she named her son Mengjiao. This choice was inspired by a dream in which a dragon encircled her body just before she gave birth. On the same day, Xu Xian's sister-in-law, Lady Li, also welcomed a newborn—a girl she named Bilian. Xu Xian had renounced all worldly attachments, even shaving his hair to fully embrace a life of monkhood, assuming the religious title of 'Daozong' at the Zhaoging Monastery. After three swift years, an unexpected desire to explore the world welled up within him. Fueled by this yearning, he bid farewell to both the fellow monks and his family before setting off from the monastery. After Xian Xian left, Lady Li became Shilin's adoptive mother.
From his earliest years, he displayed remarkable intelligence and a wholehearted dedication to the pursuit of knowledge through books, never growing weary of his studies. Unfortunately, others often ridiculed him, believing him to be the offspring of a snake-spirit. Nonetheless, he harbored no distinction between serpents and other supernatural beings as part of his family. Despite this, he had never laid eyes upon the gentle visage of the mother who had brought him into this world. Whenever he found a moment of respite, he sought solace at the pagoda. Facing north, he would fervently light incense and candles, demonstrating unwavering commitment to his studies, channeling all his effort and strength into the pursuit of knowledge. Twenty years later, he matured into a successful scholar, ultimately achieving the prestigious Zhuangyuan (top scholar) degree in the imperial examination. He petitioned on the Golden Hall, saying, "Your Majesty, my mother is trapped beneath Leifeng Pagoda. I humbly request your gracious permission to return to my hometown, offer tribute at the pagoda, and rescue my mother." The Song Emperor sympathized deeply with White Snake Lady's plight and therefore ordered Xu Shilin, to carry out the royal decree to offer tribute at the pagoda.
He visited the pagoda to pay his respects to his mother and implored for her release from its confines, ultimately rescuing her and facilitating her ascent to Heaven. The guardian deity, Jiedi Shen (揭地神), acting on the decree of the Buddha (alternatively, the Old Man of the South Pole acting on the decree of the Jade Emperor), facilitated the reunion of mother and son. With a yearning for his mother, he knelt in front of the tower with tears streaming down his face. He expressed, "During the day, I miss my mother so much that it breaks my heart, and at night, my longing for her makes my clothes wet with tears". Bai Suzhen then narrated the past, from her initial acquaintance with Xu Xian to the suppression by Fahai, revealing everything to Xu Shilin. Unfortunately, the time for their reunion was brief, and the mother and son bid a tearful farewell. Xu Shilin then returned to the court to report the day's events. He married his cousin, Bilian (known as Hu Meiniang in some versions). After his death, as an incarnation of Wenquxing, he returned to the Heavenly Court. In certain versions of the story, after Bai Suzhen was rescued from the pagoda, and the entire family was joyfully reunited.
According to an alternate version of the legend, upon returning home, he brought with him a patent of nobility that granted permission to demolish Leifeng Pagoda for his mother. However, when he personally dismantled the pagoda, he discovered his mother curled up beneath its foundation. Bai Suzhen then gracefully ascended to Heaven, riding a cloud of compassion.
The most renowned tale of a son rescuing his sinful mother from her subterranean prison is the story of Mulian Rescues His Mother. In this narrative, Mulian successfully emancipates his mother from the torments of Avici Hell through the mystical powers of Buddha. According to the book Sacrifice at the Pagoda, it explicitly describes the pagoda as a tomb and draws a direct comparison between Shilin and Mulian. However, Shilin does not rely on Daoist magic or Buddhist meditation but rather on his own filial piety and academic skills. His mother's liberation occurs after he passes the metropolitan examinations as the top-ranked candidate and offers imperial sacrifices in her honor.
Folk religion
The shadow puppetry play Leifeng Pagoda repeatedly emphasizes that White Snake Lady's son, Xu Shilin, is the incarnation of Kuixing (魁星, the God of Literature), widely revered in ancient China as the deity governing literary success. However, in Sichuan, alongside the belief in Kuixing, there is also a strong devotion to another deity associated with literary success, known as Wenchangshen (文昌神), said to have originated from the serpent spirit. The portrayal of White Snake Lady's son as Kuixing while the folk deity worshipped in Sichuan is a serpent spirit is not coincidental. It appears that the author of Leifeng Pagoda integrated external influences while adhering to the local customs of Sichuan, thereby enhancing Xu Shilin's character and strengthening his mythology.
In popular culture
Further information: List of media adaptations of the Legend of the White SnakeHis story is widely portrayed in Chinese operas and other forms of art, especially in Peking opera. Chang Show-foong's essay Xu Shilin's Monologue, selected from the collection of essays After Stepping Down the Red Carpet (步下紅毯之後), is based on the story of Xu Shilin worshipping his mother in The Legend of the White Snake. It intricately expresses Xu Shilin's feelings of worship towards his mother imprisoned in the Leifeng Pagoda, emphasizing the impermanence of the world and portraying the profound emotions between mother and child. The essay won the China Times Prose Recommendation Award in 2018.
References
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... 許士林狀元及第的身分,悲欣交集地奔赴雷峰塔,叩拜母親的心情作描寫。全文真摯感人,聲聲發自為人子的內心的吶喊,抑不住的悲憤情感,躍然紙上。所以,張曼娟認為:從《警世通言》的〈白娘子永鎮雷峰塔>到曉風散文〈許士林的獨白> ,它們原是一脈相承的,只是愈來 ... ... 許士林是無辜的受害者,卻忍受十八年的孤寂與辛酸。而反觀海峽對峙下,被迫分離的骨肉與手足,也是何其無辜與悲悽。許士林眼見每一個世間女子,都想像為自己的母親。許士林魂牽夢縈於母親的形影,而這些流落天涯的異鄉浪子,睽違不只十八年者,更是情何以堪?法海 ...
- Guru, Shri Bhagavatananda (27 October 2015). A Brief History of the Immortals of Non-Hindu Civilizations: In association with Aryavart Sanatan Vahini 'Dharmraj'. Shri Bhagavatananda Guru. ISBN 978-93-5206-453-3.
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33.許仙與白蛇(白素真)之子許士林,長大中狀元後,到塔前祭母(後將母親救出,全家團聚)。由「滿腔是溫柔激盪的愛人世的癡情」,向母親訴說人間真情的 ...
- 中国戏出年画经典 [Classic Chinese Opera New Year Pictures] (in Chinese). Beijing Book Co. Inc. 1 September 2015. ISBN 978-7-5507-1461-8.
... 许士林,6岁上学,8 岁吟诗,18岁赴京赶考,中了金科头名状元。他在金殿上奏道: "臣母被压雷峰塔下,请万岁恩准臣还乡祭塔救母。"宋天子很同情白娘子的遭遇,就命许状元奉旨祭塔。于是许士林前来塔前哭祭,那雷峰塔怎经得起文曲星朝拜?
- 臺灣所見的北管手抄本 [Handwritten Copies of Beijing Opera (Peking Opera) Found in Taiwan] (in Chinese). 臺灣省文獻委員會. 1981.
... 許士林來到雷峯塔,看守塔門的揭地神念他一片孝心,特別把白娘娘放出塔外,讓他們母子相會。白娘娘見了兒子,一則高興,一則悲傷 ... 許士林只好忍着悲痛與母親分手,打算再上京奏本拯救母親。小生扮許士林大花扮揭地神內容:正旦扮白娘娘(白雲仙姑)三六五
... 許士林得中狀元,奏本聖上請旨拆毁雷峯塔,怎奈聖上不准,只命他榮歸祭奠,吾奉玉旨看守雷峯塔,念他一片孝心,放他母子相會一遭,以全忠孝,說話末了,許士林來也。〔小生上〕今日奉旨把我差. - 俗文學叢刊: 京劇 [Popular Literature Series] (in Chinese). 中央硏究院歷史語言硏究所. 2004. ISBN 978-957-17-1993-1.
許士林,得中狀元後衣錦榮歸,並奉旨前往西湖雷峰塔祭母。揭諦神奉佛祖法旨(一作南極仙、奉玉帝旨)引其母子相會,白素貞細訴前情往事,從與許仙相識至遭法海施法鎮壓,盡告知許士林。無奈相會時刻苦短,母子忍痛揮淚而別,許士林乃回朝面奏當今。
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许士林对母亲白娘子的思念: 许士林跪塔前泪流满面,猛抬头雷峰塔遮盖半天。白日里想母亲肝肠哭断,到夜晚想母亲泪湿衣衫。
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... 许士林长大了,听说了母亲的故事之后发誓要将她救出。他勤学苦读考取了状元。在高中状元的当日,许士林身着华丽的状元服来到雷锋塔前祭拜母亲,他的孝心感动了天地,白娘子终于得以走出雷峰塔,实现一家三口的团聚。白娘子的故事起初非常简单,后来经过人们的口 ...
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許士林上引一嶺杏花紅十里,狀元及第馬如飛○中狀元名揚天下,宴瓊林帽插宮花·喜不盡蟾宮折桂,穩坐在三山之下(白)下宮許士林!大比之年上京科考,得中頭名狀元。聖上有旨,命我回家祭天拜祖,人來!卒白有!
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皮影戏《雷峰塔》反复强调白娘子之子许士 林是魁星下凡,魁星是古代中国普遍信奉的主文运的神。然而,四川除了有信 你的习俗,民间又倍奉另一个主文运的样谕神,据说样神原为蛇格。白 蛇之子为魁星,四川民间信奉的文昌神(神)是蛇精,二者不是偶合。 看来《雷峰塔》的作者又是站在四川的本位来吸收外来文化的影响,依据四川 民俗改善了许士林的形象,加强了他的神话。
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... 許士林的獨白」「獻給那些睽違母顏比十八年更長久的天涯之人」正是作者的「獨白」,可能也是寫作動機之一。今日臺灣有多少許士林,大陸就有多少白素貞一樣的母親,被無形的雷峯塔緊罩著。
- 幼獅文藝 [Young Lion Art and Literature] (in Chinese). 幼獅文化公司. 2000.
... 〈許士林的獨白〉(《步下紅毯之後》)特別自「祭塔」前後採取許士林(白素貞和許仙的兒子)第一人稱的視角,敘述睽違母顏十八年的人子心情。
- "《张晓风自选集》读后感_读后感_沪江泰语". Hujiang (in Chinese).
- "張曉風 〈許士林的獨白〉 授課 ：王晴慧. - ppt download". Slidesplayer (in Chinese).
- "許士林的獨白". National Hsinchu High School (in Chinese).
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