The Magic Lotus Lantern
The Magic Lotus Lantern is a Chinese fairy tale from the Tang dynasty.
Story
Goddess Sanshengmu falls in love with a mortal man, Liu Yangcheng. Against the wishes of her brother, Erlang Shen, she steals an artefact known as the lotus lantern, capable of subduing any creature man, beast, and even deity, and escapes Heaven to be with her lover. She later births a son whom they name Chenxiang. When Chenxiang is 7 years old, however, the family is discovered by Erlang Shen, who kidnaps the child and demands the return of the lotus lantern. Though San Shengmu acquiesces, she is imprisoned under Mount Hua as punishment. Chenxiang learns of her fate and vows to get the lantern back in hopes he can free her. As he grows into a young man, he comes under the tutelage of Sun Wukong, who crafts for him a powerful axe which he uses to take on his uncle. However, Chenxiang remains unable to beat him and, just as he is about to be killed by Erlang Shen, light from the lotus lantern merges with Chenxiang granting him enough strength to defeat his uncle. Chenxiang splits the mountain in half using the axe, freeing Sanshengmu and reuniting mother and child.
Adaptations
Films
Save Mother from Mountain, a 1928 Chinese filmBreaking Open the Mountain to Rescue Mother, a 1950 Hong Kong filmThe Precious Lotus Lamp, a 1956 Hong Kong Cantonese opera filmThe Precious Lotus Lamp, Part II The Precious Lotus Lamp, Part III The Magic Lotus Lantern, a 1959 Chinese filmBreaking Open the Mountain to Rescue Mother, a 1961 Taiwanese filmThe Lotus Lamp, a 1963 Hong Kong Cantonese opera filmThe Magic Lamp, a 1964 Hong Kong Huangmei opera filmThe Lotus Lamp, a 1965 Hong Kong filmThe Magic Lotus Lantern, a 1976 Hebei bangzi film
Animated films
Saving Mother, a 1984 Chinese filmLotus Lantern, a 1999 Chinese filmChen Xiang, a 2006 Chinese filmNew Gods: Yang Jian, a 2022 Chinese film
The Lamp Lore, a 1986 Hong Kong TV seriesThe Polien Lantern, a 2001 Chinese-Taiwanese TV seriesLotus Lantern, a 2005 Chinese TV series