Chinese Ghost Month Post: Maiden In Green

Since it's the seventh Lunar Month in the Chinese calendar - it would mean that it's Ghost Month. There's a collection of stories called the Liao Zhai. It's also called Chinese Ghost Stories. If I'm not wrong, a less popular group of eight is known as the Eight Honorable Fairies - a group often shadowed by the Eight Immortals Across the Sea. During Ghost Month - it's effortless to talk about Lu Dongbin's daring exploits in fighting off devils. Yet, Lu Zhu is another Taoist saint that I fear is overshadowed, commonly known as Maiden in Green or Lü Xian Nü (绿衣女). Alternatively, I think she's also called Lü Yi Xian Gu (绿衣仙姑) or Diok Yi Sian Koh in Hokkien. The very job of Lü Xian Nü is to fight off devils. I heard her birthday hits on the 10th day of Chinese Ghost Month (which falls today). Quite fitting really that she should also have the same role as Lu Dongbin. She also shares the same birthday as Iron Crutch Li of the Eight Immortals Across the Sea.

The story starts when Lu Zhu (a praying mantis demon) practices cultivation. This is the summary that I can find before I watched it on Youtube:

Praying Mantis Demon Lu Zhu (Bianca Bai), because of repaying the gratitude of saving her life, turned into a normal girl to marry ambitious hunter, plus hardworking scholar Yu Jing (Calvin Li). The pair of husband and wife resided on the mountain, experiencing a very blissful life. However, Scorpion Demon (Evans Wang), who was deeply in love with Lu Zhu, had been accumulating some schemes to harm Yu Jing. In addition, a powerful Taoist, Shen Guan (Yang Chen), who was in search of demons had also arrived. Not being able to distinguish between friends or foes, perils were everywhere.

On his way to the capital, Yu Jing unexpectedly ran into Princess Ru Ning (Bai Hui Zi). At the same time, Yu Jing accidentally found out about the king’s advisor’s treasonous plots. Two couple’s love, entangling with the country’s crucial matters, who isn’t just a piece of pawn within the king’s hands?

I think about how the short story develops a love triangle. Lu Zhu falls for a human, something that truly creates a lot of tension. Her practice of cultivation and trying to get over Scorpion Demon who has an unhealthy obsession with her. It was interesting to see how love for her human husband may have made her a Taoist saint eventually. Probably, the love story allowed her to cultivate until she became an exorcist or one who fights off malignant spirits in the human world.

Liao Zhai also includes the story of Hua Gu Zi. I think this Hua Gu Zi is also known as Hua Hua Xian Gu (or Hua Hua Sian Koh in Hokkien). A shorter title is Hua Gu (or Hua Koh in Hokkien). I think the mystery of the eight fairies isn't easily solved either. Hua Gu seems to also have the same nature as He Xian Gu (and both aren't the same person). It's easy to confuse He Xian Gu with Hua Gu due to their similar natures. I think the other six of the Eight Fairies' names are Yue Xia Xian Gu (Moon Fairy), Li Hua Xian Gu (Pear Fairy), Jin Hua Sian Gu (Golden Flower Fairy), Li Xian Gu (Plum Fairy), Bai She Xian Gu (White Snake Fairy or Madame White Snake), and Lu She Xian Gu (Green Snake Fairy). Though, I could be wrong considering how elusive the story of the Eight Fairies can be.

So far, it's an entertaining mini-series to watch this Ghost Month.

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