The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon: A Buddhist Reimagination of the Classic Tale of Zhou Chu

Authors

Henry C.H. Shiu, Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of TorontoFollow

Abstract

This article examines the Buddhist inspirations underlying the contemporary reinterpretation of the classic, Zhou Chu Chu Sanhai (Zhou Chu Eliminates the Three Scourges) in the Taiwanese film entitled The Pig, the Snake, and the Pigeon. Beyond the obvious reinterpretation of the “three scourges” in the original tale as the “three poisons” of greed, hatred, and delusion in the film, one also finds a deeper connection with the notion of “skillful means” (upāya-kauśalya) and the Parable of the Burning House in the Lotus Sūtra as well as the tension between established religious beliefs and new religious movements.

Recommended Citation

Shiu, Henry C.H. (2024) "The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon: A Buddhist Reimagination of the Classic Tale of Zhou Chu," Journal of Religion & Film: Vol. 28: Iss. 2, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32873/uno.dc.jrf.28.02.06
Available at: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol28/iss2/6

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

VolNum

28