白蛇傳說之法海 (The Sorcerer and the White Snake) is a 2011 action fantasy film based on the legend of the white snake popular in Chinese mythology. The film stars Jet Li as the abbot Fahai who journeys around to vanquish demons together with his disciple-turned-monster Nengren. At the onset, it seemed like a film about Buddhism and the fight versus good and evil, though there is romance involved as the film also explores the love affair between a mortal and a snake demon in the persons of Xuxian and Susu respectively.
Susu the snake demon falls in love with the physician Xuxian and the two marry each other without Xuxian knowing about his wife's true nature. Susu, though a snake demon, has a good heart and helps her husband create medicine where she breathes magic into. When Fahai detected demon magic in the medicine, he gave Xuxian a spirit blade meant to protect him. When Susu took on her snake form and couldn't revert to human form, she was stabbed by Xuxian who was unaware that the snake and his wife are one. When Xuxian learned the truth, was advised to get a special root to help Susu recover and he did though when the root was taken, other captured demons were freed which possessed Xuxian.
Then the more important fight scenes begin as Susu and her sister Qingqing fight Fahai to "save" Xuxian who was under the care of the monks in the process of banishing the demons. Fahai fights the two sisters to prevent any interference but the snakes were successful in destroying the temple.
It is in this scene where we see the dedication of the praying monks as they remain indifferent to what is happening around them even to the point when they were already submerged in the water. This is a beautiful metaphor for the Buddhist message not to worry about the tribulations in life and still strive to do what is right or what is expected of a person.
It is also in this scene where Fahai is seen contemplating about his actions and questioning if he is doing the right thing. As a monk, it is his duty to capture demons and have them meditate to attain enlightenment. At this point though, seeing the love between Susu and Xuxian, he begins to entertain doubts but nevertheless achieves enlightenment.
He then was able to trap Susu but also granted her final wish to see Xuxian one last time. The ending of the two lovers' romance was tragic as Susu was sucked to the temple to spend her days on meditation.
I think that the type of Buddhism adhered to by Fahai is one that believes even demons have the capacity to attain enlightenment through constant meditation. As such, Nirvana is not limited to the religious but extends to all beings as a manifestation of mercy from the Heavens. One important Buddhist precept is the nature of a thing regardless of physical manifestation, as embodied by the young monk Nengren who, despite having been transformed into demon form after being bitten by a bat demon, retains his humane characteristics as he helped fish other monks from the waters and deliver them to safety.
Susu the snake demon falls in love with the physician Xuxian and the two marry each other without Xuxian knowing about his wife's true nature. Susu, though a snake demon, has a good heart and helps her husband create medicine where she breathes magic into. When Fahai detected demon magic in the medicine, he gave Xuxian a spirit blade meant to protect him. When Susu took on her snake form and couldn't revert to human form, she was stabbed by Xuxian who was unaware that the snake and his wife are one. When Xuxian learned the truth, was advised to get a special root to help Susu recover and he did though when the root was taken, other captured demons were freed which possessed Xuxian.
Then the more important fight scenes begin as Susu and her sister Qingqing fight Fahai to "save" Xuxian who was under the care of the monks in the process of banishing the demons. Fahai fights the two sisters to prevent any interference but the snakes were successful in destroying the temple.
It is in this scene where we see the dedication of the praying monks as they remain indifferent to what is happening around them even to the point when they were already submerged in the water. This is a beautiful metaphor for the Buddhist message not to worry about the tribulations in life and still strive to do what is right or what is expected of a person.
It is also in this scene where Fahai is seen contemplating about his actions and questioning if he is doing the right thing. As a monk, it is his duty to capture demons and have them meditate to attain enlightenment. At this point though, seeing the love between Susu and Xuxian, he begins to entertain doubts but nevertheless achieves enlightenment.
He then was able to trap Susu but also granted her final wish to see Xuxian one last time. The ending of the two lovers' romance was tragic as Susu was sucked to the temple to spend her days on meditation.
I think that the type of Buddhism adhered to by Fahai is one that believes even demons have the capacity to attain enlightenment through constant meditation. As such, Nirvana is not limited to the religious but extends to all beings as a manifestation of mercy from the Heavens. One important Buddhist precept is the nature of a thing regardless of physical manifestation, as embodied by the young monk Nengren who, despite having been transformed into demon form after being bitten by a bat demon, retains his humane characteristics as he helped fish other monks from the waters and deliver them to safety.
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