The Eight Immortals

Li's original name was Li Xuan (李玄). He was once a very handsome man. He gained enlightenment under the guidance of the founder of Taoism (太上老君). He often sat in meditation and his spirit would leave his body to travel to the heaven. On day, he told his disciple his spirit would leave his body for seven days and the disciple should guard it during the time. However, on the sixth day, the disciple got news that his mother was sick and he needed to go home fast. In a hurry, he cremated his master's body. When Li's spirit returned, he couldn't find his body. The only body available nearby at that time was the corpse of a beggar with a lame leg. He entered into the corpse and that is the reason why instead of his original handsome appearance, he has the loathsome shape of a cripple.

Zhongli Quan, also known as Han Zhongli (汉钟离) because he was born in the Han Dynasty, was a general in the Han Dynasty. His birth was accompanied by a strange phenomena in the shape of rays of light, scores of feet in length, whereat all those in attendance were much amazed.

As a general, he was sent on an expedition against the enemy in the North. He lost the war and became a fugitive riding alone through wild and mountainous country. On his journey he met an old man at a village who taught him an infallible magic process for attaining longevity, knowledge of divine elixirs and the Green Dragon Swordsmanship.

Zhongli Quan later retired to Mount Kongtong (崆峒山) and took up his abode on the Red-gold Peak. There he found a jade casket containing the arcana of Taoism, and, having attained immortality, departed this world.

Elder Zhang Guo was a hermit who lived in the Zhongtiao Mountain (中条山) in the Tang Dynasty. He often rode on a white donkey and traveled thousands of miles a day. Whenever he stopped to rest, he would fold his donkey up like a piece of paper and slipped it into his box. When he wished to ride again, he would spew water over it, and transformed it back into a donkey. Empress Wu once summoned him to the palace but he refused and feigned death.

In the twenty-third year of the Kai Yuan period (A.D. 735), Emperor Xuan Zong (唐玄宗) summoned him to the Eastern capital and installed him as a Chief of the Imperial Academy. One day, the Emperor bestowed him some wine, but he declined, saying he can only drink two pints but has a disciple who can manage ten. The disciple was summoned. Suddenly, a young Taoist priest aged about 15 flew down from the roof of the palace. The Emperor ordered him to be seated, but Elder Zhang Guo protested, "My disciple should remain standing while in attendance upon Your Majesty." The Emperor was pleased and presented some wine to the disciple, who managed to drink ten pints of it. Elder Zhang Guo stopped the Emperor, explaining that more wine would exceed the disciple's limit. However, the Emperor insisted upon presenting more wine. As a result, wine swelled to the top of the young Taoist's head and gushed out, dislodging his cap, which fell to the ground. Instantly he vanished and transformed into a golden wine-cup. The Emperor and the imperial concubines were amazed to see this. Upon inspection it transpired that the cup belonged to the palace and was capable of holding exactly ten pints of wine.

Elder Zhang Guo was treated with great honour and conferred the title Master of Taoist Mysteries.

Philosopher Han Xiang, popularly known as Han Xiangzi was the nephew of Han Yu, a prominent poet and statesman of the Tang dynasty. He studied Taoism under Lu Dongbin (吕洞宾). Once at a banquet by Han Yu, Han Xiangzi tried to persuade Han Yu to renounce his political career and pursue Tao. Han Yu, however suggested that Han Xiangzi should renounce Tao and pursue a political career. In order to convince Han Yu, Han Xiangzi performed a few miracles. He filled an empty goblet with excellent wine using the power of Tao. He also caused flowers to spring up from a heap of earth and bloom in the twinkling of an eye. In the mist of the flowers was a couplet which said:

"Lost on the far Qing Mountains, I cannot find my way;
Snowdrifts cover the Lan Pass and my horse can do no more."

Not long afterwards, Han Yu was banished to a minor post in Chaozhou over his opposition to the Emperor's enthusiasm over the Buddha's bone. On his way to Chaozhou, Han Yu was stranded by a snowstorm. All of a sudden, Han Xiangzi appeared. Han Yu inquired what the name of the place was, and was told "the Lan Pass". Han Yu was astonished by the accuracy of Han Xiangzi's previous prediction. That night they both stayed at an inn beside the Pass. Knowing that Han Yu was dispirited, Han Xiangzi cheered him up by saying, "You will soon be back again, not only in good health, but also reinstated in your former office." All of these prediction later came true.

Female Immortal He or He Xiangu is the only female immortal of the Eight Immortals. She was born in the town of Zeng Cheng of Guangdong province as the daughter of He Tai (何泰). At the age of 14, a deity appeared to her in a dream and taught her to consume powdered mica so that she can become an immortal. She took the powder as instructed and vowed never to marry. She often wandered in the valleys and walked very fast as if flying. Gradually she gave up taking ordinary food. Finally, she ascended to Heaven in broad daylight and became an immortal.

Lan Caihe was a hermit in the Tang Dynasty. He wore a ragged gown, with one foot in a boot and the other bare. In summer he had his gown padded with cotton-wool, and in the winter he used to sleep on the snow, and vapour of steam would arose from his body. He wandered through the country begging and singing to the rhythm of his castanets. In a half-crazy way he sang songs which were related to immortality, and were therefore unintelligible to ordinary mortals. One day, while in a tavern, sound of reed-organ and flute was heard. Lan Caihe suddenly rose to the clouds, dropped down his shoe, gown, belt and castanets, and gradually passed out of sight.

Lu Dongbin was the most famous and most mentioned of the eight immortals. His Taoist name was Chun Yangzi (纯阳子). He was born Lu Yan (吕岩) in the town of Yongle (永乐镇), in the Hezhong Prefecture (河中府), during the Tang dynasty. At the time of birth, a divine fragrance pervaded the house. As a child, he was intelligent and could memorize thousands of lines a day. At the age of 20, he was still without a wife. He took the imperial examination twice but failed.

One day, while in a tavern in Chang'an (长安), he met Zhongli Quan. While the latter was cooking a pot of yellow millet, Lu Dongbin reclined on his pillow and fell asleep. He dreamt he took the imperial examination and excelled. He became a government official and eventually rose to the position of prime minister. He was married twice, and both wives belonged to families of wealth and position. Children were born to him. However, his success attracted the jealousy of others who accused him of a grave crime. All his possessions were confiscated, and his wife and children separated. He became a solitary outcast. At this moment he woke up to find that the yellow millet was still being prepared! He came to a sudden realization of the impermanence of fame, glory and wealth. As a result, he went with Zhongli Quan to cultivate the Tao.

Cao Guojiu was the younger brother of the mother of one of the Song Emperors. He had a younger brother, Cao Jingzhi (曹景植) who murdered people but no one dared to prosecute him because of his imperial connections. Cao Guojiu was so ashamed of his brother that he left home and sought solitude in the mountain cavern. He wore rustic clothes and fasted for days at a time. One day he met the immortals Zhongli Quan and Lu Dongbin, who taught him the Taoist secrets. Not long afterwards, he joined the rank of the immortals.