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There is a very famous traditional Chinese story that has a close connection to the DragonBoat Festival. Once upon a time on E-Mei mountain there lived two snake spirits, White Snakeand Green Snake. These snakes, being magical, turned themselves into beautiful maidens andset off on a journey to the West Lake of Hang Zhou. When they arrived at West Lake they met a man named Xu Xian. White Snake quickly fell inlove with Xu Xian and they were soon married. A Buddhist monk, named Fa Hai, warned Xu Xianof his wife's deceptive appearance and suggested to him a plan. On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival White Snake wished to stay home so as to avoidthe Ay Tsao, used for protection from spirits, hanging on the doors of people's houses. Herhusband prepared, according to Fa Hai's instruction, some realgar wine, as this was a traditionduring the Dragon boat festival. White Snake, thinking her magic would protect her from theeffects of the realgar wine accepted a cup. After she drank the wine she became very ill and wasbarely able to get to her bed. When her husband came to her side, he found not his wife but a huge white snake. Sogreat was Xu Xian's shock that he fell to the floor dead. After recovering from the realgar wine and regaining her human form, White Snake wasgrief-stricken to find her husband dead. She set off on a journey to obtain a potent medicinalherb, which could revive her husband. After returning and reviving her husband with themedicine, she explained to Xu Xian that the white snake he saw was actually a dragon and thatthis vision was indeed a very good omen. Xu Xain's fears were put to rest for the moment byhis wife's fanciful story | 
