A legendary journey from Hangzhou's West Lake to New York
Reimagining a centuries-old Chinese folk tale through experimental theater, a Yale student brings The Legend of the White Snake to contemporary, multicultural audiences in the US through the medium of Mandarin.
"Through these techniques, our goal is not simply to retell a classic story, but to focus on the emotional and psychological relationships that truly drive it, such as fear, desire, attraction and division," He adds.
"In doing so, we want to make this ancient legend more accessible to contemporary, cross-cultural audiences."
This distinctive approach helped break down language barriers, even for English-speaking viewers with no prior knowledge of the folk tale.
"An American friend of mine, who knew nothing about Chinese culture or the original story, told me she was deeply moved, perhaps for the first time, by an ancient Chinese legend," He recalls.
"She even said she wanted to visit West Lake in Hangzhou, the story's setting, to better understand the culture behind it. Feedback like this means so much to me because it shows that, for a story to resonate with a foreign audience, language itself may not matter as much as emotional power."
