Bai Mudan (白牡丹; literally White Peony), also romanized as Pai Mu-tan, is a character from Chinese mythology. She is described as the most beautiful courtesan in the city of Luoyang and a reincarnation of the Peony fairy.
One of White Peony's legends comes from the novel Journey to the East.[1] It is said that one day, the immortal Lü Dongbin took a walk in Luoyang spotted White Peony, and was attracted to her beauty. Lü Dongbin then transformed himself into a handsome scholar and slept with her many times. However, in accordance with Taoist alchemy, he never ejaculated, in order to preserve his Yang essence. Unfortunately, Lu's immortal colleague Iron-Crutch Li and He Xiangu taught Mudan how to make him ejaculate by tickling his groin. Finally, White Peony successfully made Lü Dongbin ejaculate and absorbed his Yang essence. Later she cultivated herself and became immortal as well.[2]
Feijianji, another novel from the Ming Dynasty [3] had a slightly different version of this legend. According to Feijianji, Bai Mudan was a common girl (not a courtesan) who was seduced by Lü Dongbin. Later she became very weak since Lu practiced "cai yin bu yang" [4] on her. Meaning he absorbed her yin (female) essence, without losing his own yang (male) essence. When her mother consulted with Buddhist Monk Huanglong (Yellow Dragon), he taught her how to make Lü Dongbin ejaculate and thus restore her yin essence. This event enraged Lü Dongbin, he tried to decapitate Huanglong using his flying sword but failed. In the end Lu admitted his mistakes and acknowledged Huanglong as his teacher.
In another story White Peony was ordered by the minister Su Shi (Su Dongpo), to tempt his friend, monk Fo Yin.[5]
Some legends described Bai Mudan as a haughty courtesan who like to humiliate her clients. She even asked the greedy merchant Chen Hua to kiss her buttocks, licked her anus and farted into his mouth,[6] an allusion for Chen Hua's constant flattery. The Chinese idiom for flattery is duo tun peng pi 掇臀捧屁 (hug the butt and praise the fart) [7]
As goddess
Bai Mudan was deified as a goddess who tempts men or more specifically an ascetic due to her reputation as a seducer.[8]
In popular culture
White Peony appeared in classic novels such as Journey to the East (東遊記), Ba Xian Dedao (八仙得道),[9] Fei Jian Ji,[10] and Han Xiangzi Quanzhuan-The Story of Han Xiangzi: The Alchemical Adventures of a Daoist Immortal (韓湘子全傳).[11]
She is also a protagonist in the opera Lü Dongbin san xi Bai Mudan (Lü Dongbin three trick on White Peony).[12] However, in some opera versions White Peony is depicted as an apothecary's daughter instead of courtesan.
White Peony appeared in many television series such as Dong You Ji (portrayed by Phyllis Quek),[16]Eight Avatar (portrayed by Sonija Kwok),[17]Baxian Guohai (ATV-1985) portrayed by Ban Ban, and Ghost Catcher Legend of Beauties (portrayed by Liu Yihan).[18] She also appeared in the 1971 movie Eight Immortals, portrayed by Chang Chi-Yu[19]
References
^Wu Yuantai. Journey to the East (Dong You Ji)-Chinese text 2010-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
^Chinese Mythology by Owen Giddens, and Sandra Giddens
^"第五回 吕纯阳宿白牡丹 纯阳飞剑斩黄龙" [The fifth time Lu Chunyang Su Bai Peony Pure Yang Feijian Huanglong]. www.guoxue123.com.
^. Archived from the original on 2002-12-16. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
^Anning Jing (2002.) The Water God's Temple of the Guangsheng Monastery: Cosmic Function of Art, Ritual and Theater Brill
^Father Axel (2016). The Eight Immortals: Taoist Tales of Liberation.ASIN B0195YIZUI Ch.4
^Judith Lau. Yang Hsiao Yin Chang The Female Domination Over The Wold Of Men
^Janet and Stewart Farrar.The Witches' Goddess. F+W Media International Ltd
^ [The 93rd verse, Ye Fashan, Zhang Guo, Lu Chunyang, three trials of white peony]. guji.artx.cn. Archived from the original on 2013-04-05. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
^Causality and Containment in Seventeenth-Century Chinese Fiction by Keith McMahon
^The Story of Han Xiangzi: The Alchemical Adventures of a Daoist Immortal Translated by Philip Clart
^李思慧 (18 July 2008). "思慧: Tampines East CC - Part 2".
^"Lu Dong Bin san xi Bai Mu Dan (1949)". www.filmweb.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 13 January 2019.
^"Lu Dong Bin san xi Bai Mu Dan (1956)". www.filmweb.pl (in Polish).
^III, Harris M. Lentz (2016). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2010. McFarland. p. 231. ISBN9780786486496.
^"Legend of the Eight immortals (1998) Review by sukting - Singapore TV Series - spcnet.tv". www.spcnet.tv.
^. www.avistaz.me. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013.
Unruly Gods: Divinity and Society in China. A Summary of Bai Mudan (White Peony) misadventure with Lü Dongbin story
Wu Yuantai. Dongyouji (Journey to the East), chapter 27-28
Fejianji, chapter 5
Peter Lovrik & Wang-Ngai Siu. Chinese Opera: Images and Stories a synopsis for Chinese "Lü Dongbin san xi Bai Mudan" (Lü Dongbin three trick on White Peony)
Anning Jing. The Water God's Temple of the Guangsheng Monastery
January 07, 2023
mudan, mythology, other, uses, mudan, disambiguation, mudan, 白牡丹, literally, white, peony, also, romanized, character, from, chinese, mythology, described, most, beautiful, courtesan, city, luoyang, reincarnation, peony, fairy, contents, legends, goddess, popu. For other uses see Bai Mudan disambiguation Bai Mudan 白牡丹 literally White Peony also romanized as Pai Mu tan is a character from Chinese mythology She is described as the most beautiful courtesan in the city of Luoyang and a reincarnation of the Peony fairy Contents 1 Legends 2 As goddess 3 In popular culture 4 References 5 External linksLegends EditOne of White Peony s legends comes from the novel Journey to the East 1 It is said that one day the immortal Lu Dongbin took a walk in Luoyang spotted White Peony and was attracted to her beauty Lu Dongbin then transformed himself into a handsome scholar and slept with her many times However in accordance with Taoist alchemy he never ejaculated in order to preserve his Yang essence Unfortunately Lu s immortal colleague Iron Crutch Li and He Xiangu taught Mudan how to make him ejaculate by tickling his groin Finally White Peony successfully made Lu Dongbin ejaculate and absorbed his Yang essence Later she cultivated herself and became immortal as well 2 Feijianji another novel from the Ming Dynasty 3 had a slightly different version of this legend According to Feijianji Bai Mudan was a common girl not a courtesan who was seduced by Lu Dongbin Later she became very weak since Lu practiced cai yin bu yang 4 on her Meaning he absorbed her yin female essence without losing his own yang male essence When her mother consulted with Buddhist Monk Huanglong Yellow Dragon he taught her how to make Lu Dongbin ejaculate and thus restore her yin essence This event enraged Lu Dongbin he tried to decapitate Huanglong using his flying sword but failed In the end Lu admitted his mistakes and acknowledged Huanglong as his teacher In another story White Peony was ordered by the minister Su Shi Su Dongpo to tempt his friend monk Fo Yin 5 Some legends described Bai Mudan as a haughty courtesan who like to humiliate her clients She even asked the greedy merchant Chen Hua to kiss her buttocks licked her anus and farted into his mouth 6 an allusion for Chen Hua s constant flattery The Chinese idiom for flattery is duo tun peng pi 掇臀捧屁 hug the butt and praise the fart 7 As goddess EditBai Mudan was deified as a goddess who tempts men or more specifically an ascetic due to her reputation as a seducer 8 In popular culture EditWhite Peony appeared in classic novels such as Journey to the East 東遊記 Ba Xian Dedao 八仙得道 9 Fei Jian Ji 10 and Han Xiangzi Quanzhuan The Story of Han Xiangzi The Alchemical Adventures of a Daoist Immortal 韓湘子全傳 11 She is also a protagonist in the opera Lu Dongbin san xi Bai Mudan Lu Dongbin three trick on White Peony 12 However in some opera versions White Peony is depicted as an apothecary s daughter instead of courtesan Movies have been based on the opera 13 14 15 White Peony appeared in many television series such as Dong You Ji portrayed by Phyllis Quek 16 Eight Avatar portrayed by Sonija Kwok 17 Baxian Guohai ATV 1985 portrayed by Ban Ban and Ghost Catcher Legend of Beauties portrayed by Liu Yihan 18 She also appeared in the 1971 movie Eight Immortals portrayed by Chang Chi Yu 19 References Edit Wu Yuantai Journey to the East Dong You Ji Chinese text Archived 2010 11 28 at the Wayback Machine Chinese Mythology by Owen Giddens and Sandra Giddens 第五回 吕纯阳宿白牡丹 纯阳飞剑斩黄龙 The fifth time Lu Chunyang Su Bai Peony Pure Yang Feijian Huanglong www guoxue123 com Taoism And Sex Archived from the original on 2002 12 16 Retrieved 2014 09 11 Anning Jing 2002 The Water God s Temple of the Guangsheng Monastery Cosmic Function of Art Ritual and Theater Brill Father Axel 2016 The Eight Immortals Taoist Tales of Liberation ASIN B0195YIZUI Ch 4 Judith Lau Yang Hsiao Yin Chang The Female Domination Over The Wold Of Men Janet and Stewart Farrar The Witches Goddess F W Media International Ltd 八仙得道 第九十三回 叶法善虔谒张果老 吕纯阳三试白牡丹 无垢道人著 中国古籍全录 The 93rd verse Ye Fashan Zhang Guo Lu Chunyang three trials of white peony guji artx cn Archived from the original on 2013 04 05 Retrieved 2012 12 28 Causality and Containment in Seventeenth Century Chinese Fiction by Keith McMahon The Story of Han Xiangzi The Alchemical Adventures of a Daoist Immortal Translated by Philip Clart 李思慧 18 July 2008 思慧 Tampines East CC Part 2 Lu Dong Bin san xi Bai Mu Dan 1949 www filmweb pl in Polish Retrieved 13 January 2019 Lu Dong Bin san xi Bai Mu Dan 1956 www filmweb pl in Polish III Harris M Lentz 2016 Obituaries in the Performing Arts 2010 McFarland p 231 ISBN 9780786486496 Legend of the Eight immortals 1998 Review by sukting Singapore TV Series spcnet tv www spcnet tv 8 Avatar Chinese 2009 www avistaz me Archived from the original on 19 August 2013 Legend Of Beauty www spcnet tv The Eight Immortals 1971 hkmdb com External links EditEncyclopedia of Chinese Gods and Goddesses p 6 Unruly Gods Divinity and Society in China A Summary of Bai Mudan White Peony misadventure with Lu Dongbin story Wu Yuantai Dongyouji Journey to the East chapter 27 28 Fejianji chapter 5 Peter Lovrik amp Wang Ngai Siu Chinese Opera Images and Stories a synopsis for Chinese Lu Dongbin san xi Bai Mudan Lu Dongbin three trick on White Peony Anning Jing The Water God s Temple of the Guangsheng Monastery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bai Mudan mythology amp oldid 1126286852, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
