Reconfiguring Myth and Agency: Posthuman Perspectives on Transformation and Identity in the Web Novel Semi-Demon Si Teng

On December 2, 2025, RIDCH hosted the 11th seminar in its “Chinese Mythology in the Digital Age” series. This session focused on the adaptation and reinvention of traditional Chinese mythology in contemporary online literature, with “The Legend of the White Snake” as the central theme. Dr. Wei delivered an in-depth analysis of Wei Yu's work Semi-Demon Si Teng and demonstrated its fusion of science and metaphysics through a postsecular and posthuman feminist lens.

The seminar began by tracing the historical evolution of “The Legend of the White Snake”. From the Tang Dynasty's cautionary tale “Li Huang,” which warned men against seductive female demons, to the Qing Dynasty's “Leifeng Pagoda” narrative emphasizing Confucian filial piety, the story has undergone distinct transformations. Early literary versions portrayed the White Snake as a dangerous femme fatale, whereas later adaptations recast her as a devoted mother redeemed by her son's success in the imperial examination. Contemporary adaptations, however, mark a radical shift in values: moving from fearing demons to embracing them, and even identifying with them.

The core of the seminar was a comparative analysis highlighting the transformative innovations of Semi-Demon Si Teng in relation to “The Legend of the White Snake”. Semi-Demon Si Teng integrates scientific rationality with metaphysical elements and subverts traditional narratives by redefining the role of “children.” Instead of being “family heirs” who perpetuate patriarchy, children are reimagined as “tools for the mother to continue her own life.” Moreover, the seminar noted that online literature has revived the classical zhiguai tradition. Many women-oriented online works use yaoguai as their protagonists because yaoguai and women are both “marginalized others” in a patriarchal society. However, yaoguai possess supernatural powers that humans lack, symbolically empowering women to resist and rewrite their fates.

The seminar concluded by emphasizing that Chinese mythology continues to nourish online literature, while digital storytelling enriches and expands the scope and significance of these enduring myths.