Bai Suzhen

Origin: Chinese mythology

Combination: human + snake

Classification: Reptile

Other Names: Lady Bai, White Snake Lady, Madam White Snake

Associations: love, transformation, nature

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According to Chinese myth, Bai Suzhen is a one-thousand-year-old white snake spirit. She is often depicted as having the torso of a woman but the lower body of a snake, though she has the ability to shape-shift between human and snake form according to some versions of the legend. She is the main character of the Legend of the White Snake– one of China's primary four famed folktales– in which she is portrayed as a powerful snake spirit who falls in love with a mortal man. Bai Suzhen embodies themes of love, transformation, and the delicate balance between the human and spirit realms. She is often described as benevolent and compassionate, using her supernatural abilities to help others.