Qing, Xu Xian & Xian’er in WHITE DREAM
Last time, we talked about Bai Su’s name.
Today, let’s meet Qing, Xu Xian, and Xian’er. Fahai and more.
💚 Qing — Our Young King
In the traditional White Snake legend, Qing is usually called Xiao Qing (小青), a female green snake spirit.
In Chinese, Xiao (小) means “little” or “young,” while Lao (老) means “old.” Both are commonly placed before surnames or names to express familiarity, age, or seniority.
So Xiao Li (小李) isn't necessarily small, and Lao Wang (老王) isn't necessarily an old man. 😂
And Qing (青)? It can refer to green, blue, or shades in between—the color of our green snake.
But my Qing is a rather manly fellow.
So I dropped the Xiao. Shorter. Stronger. More direct.
Besides, doesn't Qing sound a little like King?
🤍 Xu Xian & Xian’er — A Little Immortal
Xu Xian (許仙) is a name inherited from the traditional White Snake legend. The male lead has had different names across various versions, but Xu Xian is the most widely recognized today.
In WHITE DREAM, however, I've given this familiar name a new meaning.
Xu (許) can mean “to promise.”
Xian (仙) means “immortal.”
Remember the prologue one? Bai Su was the one who gave Xian’er his name.
A promise. An immortal.
That wasn't just a coincidence. 😉
And Er (兒)? In Chinese, adding it to a name can make the name sound affectionate, tender, even a little baby-like.
But in WHITE DREAM, Xu Xian and Xian’er aren't quite the same person. Or are they? 😉
And here is my little naming trick:
For Qing, I removed Xiao.
One name became shorter and stronger. The other became softer and more intimate.
And yes—our young king and little immortal are rivals in love. 😂🤣
And more.🪷 Three Monks, Three Names
Fahai and his disciples.
Fahai (法海) means an ocean of Dharma: Fa is the Buddha's teachings, and Hai is the sea. In WHITE DREAM, his name carries a beautiful hope—that the Dharma can ferry people across the sea of suffering.
His disciple Dao'an (道安) has a gentler name. Dao is the spiritual path; An means peace. The Path to Peace. Quite fitting for a quiet young monk, don't you think?
And then there's another monk named Dao'lin (道臨). Lin means to arrive, so I gave the name a meaning of its own: the arrival of the Buddhist path in someone's life. Whose life? Well, you'll find out later. 😉
Three Buddhist names, three different hopes. Unfortunately, names are no guarantee of a peaceful life—especially in my novels. 😂
⏳ Long-Life Gu — A Name Full of Irony
Even the name Long-Life Gu (顧留歲) is a little joke. Liu (留) means to keep or hold on to; Sui (歲) means years. Put them together, and you get someone desperately trying to hold on to his years.
And if you've met him in WHITE DREAM, you'll know he takes that idea rather seriously.
A name can be a wish. Sometimes, it can also be a warning. 😂
— BB Lam | 李白白