The members of the Eight Immortals are always the same eight individuals, arranged in the usual order: Iron Arm Li, Han Zhongli, Zhang Guo Luo, Lan Caihe, He Xiangu, Lu Dongbin, Han Xiangzi, and Cao Guojiu. What makes them special is that they almost cover all kinds of people in society: old and young, male and female, rich and poor, literate and martial, healthy and disabled. It seems to be saying that no matter who you are, as long as you sincerely pursue immortality, you will have the opportunity to achieve enlightenment.
• Iron Arm Li is considered the leader of the Eight Immortals. According to legend, he was originally handsome. Once his soul left his body to travel around, his disciple thought he was dead and cremated his body. When he returned, he had no body and had to take up residence in a starving and lame beggar’s body, thus becoming a disheveled and iron-encased ugly man. There is a large gourd on his back that contains miraculous medicines, which are specifically used to cure the sick and save lives.
Han Zhongli, according to the legend, was a general of the Eastern Han Dynasty. He wore his chest exposed and held a banana fan in his hand. This fan possessed extraordinary powers and could bring the dead back to life. He was the master of Lu Dongbin and held a very high position in Taoism.
Zhang Guole, the most interesting feature is riding a donkey upside down. He often says, “Among all the people in the world, none can compare to me, this old man. It’s not that I ride the donkey upside down, but rather I always look back at everything.” This “looking back” embodies profound wisdom of life. His talisman is a fish drum, which can be used for fortune-telling about one’s life.
Lan Caihe is a street performer with a ragged appearance, wearing torn clothes and one foot in shoes while the other is bare. He spends his entire day playing a fast-paced tune and singing seemingly crazy but philosophically profound songs. His talisman is a flower basket, which contains rare and exotic flowers and plants, and it can communicate with people’s hearts.
Hou Xian Gu, the only female among the Eight Immortals. According to legend, she was a woman from Zengcheng, Guangdong Province during the Tang Dynasty. She often went up the mountains to gather herbs and had a kind heart. Later, by chance, she ate a fairy fruit and became an immortal. She holds a lotus flower in her hand, symbolizing purity and self-cultivation.
Lü Dongbin is undoubtedly the most famous and best-known figure among the Eight Immortals. He was originally a scholar, and later became an immortal under the tutelage of Han Zhongli. He carried a sword on his back, capable of slaying demons and eliminating troubles in the world, and was also unrestrained and fond of interacting with people. Many legends have been created about him, such as “Lü Dongbin’s Three Encounters with White Peony” and “The Dog Attacks Lü Dongbin”. Many Taoist temples have a “Lüzu Hall” dedicated to him.
Han Xiangzi was the nephew of the great Tang Dynasty writer Han Yu. He was a handsome and elegant young man, skilled in playing the flute. His flute music could inspire all living things, even causing flowers to bloom. It was said that he once demonstrated the magic of “instant blooming” before Han Yu to enlighten his uncle.
Uncle Cao was the most noble among the Eight Immortals. It is said that he was the younger brother of Empress Cao of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Song Renzong. He renounced the world and gave up all his wealth and honors, going into the mountains to practice Taoism. His sacred object was the jade tablet (court staff), which was usually used for calming the mind and purifying thoughts.
Regarding the Eight Immortals, the most famous story is “The Eight Immortals Crossing the Seas, Each Displaying Their Special Skills”. According to the legend, they went to attend the Peach Festival hosted by the Queen Mother of the West. On their way back, they passed by the Eastern Sea. Instead of using boats, each of them took out their magical items to cross the sea: Iron Thigh Li used a gourd, Han Zhongli used a banana fan, Lu Dongbin used a sword… This caused the Dragon Palace to be disturbed and led to a fierce battle. In the end, the Eight Immortals worked together and won completely. This story perfectly embodies their characteristic of teamwork and individual outstanding skills. The influence of the Eight Immortals is everywhere. They are deities revered in Taoism (especially the Quanzhen Sect), and are also the most popular themes in folk art. You can often see them in New Year paintings, porcelain, and wood carvings. Even there is an implicit expression called “Hidden Eight Immortals”, which means not painting the people but only depicting their magical items to represent auspicious meanings. In the scene of celebrating a birthday, “The Eight Immortals Celebrating a Birthday” is a classic theme.
