Eight Immortals 八仙
The Eight Immortals are a group of legendary Taoist immortals in Chinese mythology. Ordinary mortals who, through good works and good lives, were rewarded by the Queen Mother Wang by giving them the peaches of everlasting life .
The Immortals are :
Immortal Woman He (He Xiangu) 何 瓊 /何 仙 姑
Royal Uncle Cao (Cao Guojiu) 曹 國 舅
Iron-Crutch Li (Tieguai Li) 李 铁 拐
Lan Caihe 藍 采 和
Lü Dongbin (leader) 呂 洞 賓
Philosopher Han Xiang (Han Xiang Zi) 韓 湘 子
Elder Zhang Guo (Zhang Guo Lao) 張 果 老
Han Zhongli (Zhongli Quan) 鐘 離 權
HO HSIEN-KU -Hé Qióng (何 瓊 Hé Qióng), Immortal Woman He or He Xiangu (何仙姑 Hé Xiān Gū in pinyin or Ho Hsien-ku) is the only female deity among the Eight Immortals. She is a Cantonese girl who dreamed that she could become immortal by eating a powder made of mother-of-pearl. She appears only to men of great virtue.
Royal Uncle Cao or Cao Guojiu (曹 國 舅 Ts'ao Kuo-ch'iu) is named one of the following:
Cao Yi (曹 佾 cáo yì) (courtesy name Gongbo (公 伯 gōng bó)) ; Cao Jing (曹 景 cáo jǐng)
Cao Jingxiu (曹 景 休 cáo jǐng xiū) ; Cao You (曹友 cáo yǒu).
He was said to be the uncle of the Emperor of the Song Empire, being the younger brother of Empress Dowager Cao (曹 太 后 cáo tàihòu), He tried to reform his brother, a corrupt emperor, by reminding him that the laws of heaven are inescapable.
LI TIEH-KUAI Li of the Iron Crutch. (李 铁 拐: meaning "Iron-crutch Li" ) is one of the most ancient of the Eight Immortals of the Daoist pantheon. Given the wide discrepancies in the dates ascribed to his mortal life. In Chinese art, Li Tieguai is portrayed as an ugly old beggar with a dirty face and unkempt beard, walking with the aid of a large iron crutch. He is described as irascible and ill-tempered, but also benevolent to the poor, sick, and the needy, whose suffering he alleviates with medicine from his gourd bottle . A healer, Li sits as a beggar in the market place selling wondrous drugs, some of which can revive the dead.
Lan Caihe (藍 采 和 ; Lan Ts'ai-ho) is the least defined of the Eight Immortals. Lan Caihe's age and sex are unknown. Lan's behaviour are often bizarrely eccentric. He dresses in a ragged blue gown, and refer to him as the patron immortal of minstrels. In some Lan is a female singer whose song lyrics accurately predict future events. Is usually depicted in sexually ambiguous clothing, but is often shown as a young boy or girl carrying a bamboo flower basket. He is often described as carrying a pair of bamboo castanets which he would clap and make a beat with by hitting the ground, he would then sing to this beat and a group of onlookers would follow and watch in amazement and entertain themselves. After these performances they would give him lots of money as he was beggar, Lan Cai He would then string this cash and coins on a long string of money he carried. As he walked the coins would fall off and Lan Cai He would not care, other beggars would then take the money.
He is often described as wearing only one shoe and other foot being bare. In the Winter it was said he slept naked in the snow and it melted and in the summer it was said he stuffed his clothes full and wore thick clothes despite the heat. He was snatched by a stork to the heavens.
Lǚ Dòngbīn (呂 洞 賓 ) Lü Tung-Pin is a historical figure and also a deity/Immortal revered by many in the Chinese culture sphere, especially by Daoists/Taoists. Lǚ Dòngbīn is one of the most widely known of the group of deities known as the Eight Immortals and considered by some to be the de facto leader. (The formal leader is more likely said to be Zhongli Quan or sometimes Iron-Crutch Li.) He is also a historical figure who was mentioned in the official history book "History of Song". Lǚ is widely considered to be one of the earliest masters of the tradition of Neidan, or Internal alchemy. He is depicted in art as being dressed as a scholar and he often bears a sword on his back that dispels evil spirits. Renouncing riches and the world, he punished the wicked and rewarded the good, and slew dragons with a magic sword.
HAN HSIANG-TZU 韓湘 子: hán xiāng zi is an aged hermit with miraculous abilities. Chang owned a donkey that could travel at incredible speed. The personification of the primordial vapor that is the source of all life,is a Philosopher, was born during the Tang Dynasty, He studied Daoism under Lü Dongbin. Once at a banquet by his uncle Han Yu, Han Xiang tried to persuade Han Yu to give up a life of officialdom and to study magic with him. But Han Yu was adamant that Han Xiang should dedicate his life to Confucianism instead of Daoism, so Han Xiang demonstrated the power of the Dao by pouring out cup after cup of wine from the gourd without end.
Because his flute gives life, Han became a protector of flautists.
Zhang Guo Lao : 張 果 老 Elder Zhang Guo or Zhang Guo Lao, 張果老 or Chang Kuo Lao is one of the Eight Immortals. He is known as Master Comprehension-of-Profundity (通玄先生 ). He lived as an occultist-alchemist during the Tang Dynasty. By the time of Empress Wu (684–705), he claimed to be several hundred years old. He makes Chinese wine or liquor out from the herbs and shrubs as a hobby. Members of the Eight Immortals just love to drink his home-made wine which believe to have healing or medical properties. When Empress Wu summoned him to leave the mountain, so he feigned death. He is the personification of a white bat. He rides a white donkey backward. Emperor Xuanzong attempted to give him an office with the title of Silvery Blue Guanglu Minister (銀青光祿大夫). He was the most eccentric of the eight immortals, as one can see from the kung fu style that was dedicated to him — which includes moves such as delivering a kick during a backflip, or bending so far back that your shoulders touch the ground! His appearance is that of an aged hermit with miraculous abilities. Chang owned a donkey which could travel at incredible speed and when he is not riding his donkey, he can fold the donkey and put it in a small box. The personification of the primordial vapor which is the source of all life.
Zhongli Quan (鍾 離 權 : Chung-li Ch'üan) is one of the most ancient of the Eight Daoist Immortals, having allegedly lived during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.E. - 220 C.E.). Initially a well-respected general in the Han emperor's army, he became renowned later in life as an alchemist, and as the instructor of Lu Dongbin (a fellow immortal).
Today Zhongli Quan is remembered for his dedication to helping others, and for cultivating his own spiritual and moral character. He is said to have saved the lives of a number of starving peasants by creating enough silver to allow them all to purchase food for themselves. In Chinese art, Zhongli Quan is typically portrayed as a rotund man bearing a feathered fan or a peach. He is a smiling old men always beaming with joy, he was rewarded with immortality for his ascetic life in the mountains.
The instruments used by the Eight Immortals are called "Covert Eight Immortals", respectively representing their holders and embodying good wishes and blessings. The instruments are: the fish-shaped drum that can tell the future; the precious sword that can subdue monsters and drive away evils; the flute that can make everything grow; the lotus flower that can bring self cultivation; the bottle gourd that can save all living things from misery; the fan that can make the dead come back to life; the jade clapper that can purify the environment and the flower basket that has great magic power. In traditional sculpture, painting, lacquer ware, porcelain ware, jade ware, woodwork, decorations and ornamental hanging parts etc, these instruments of the Eight Immortals are usually featured as a sign of good luck.
The religious believes has a great influence on the cultural characteristic on the practicianor. Chinese are hardworking and down-to-earth people, they always believe that although they work hard and do their level best, for them to succeed they need the blessing of the gods and goddesses ; so they make it important for everyone to wish good fortune to the other and vice versa.
Chinese own philosophies accept freedom of religions.Chinese also believes that any religion should promote universal harmony, not hatreds.Religion should not be used for politics in any sense but for spiritual richness of mankind.
Any religion body, which has a tie and effective control in organization, is not purely for promoting their religion but to solidify their power and influences in the society.These organizations are not religion in nature but political or commercial bodies.
Chinese philosophies and religions after so many years become very complicated and difficult to summarize. But one thing is sure that Chinese is taught to live in harmony with people and the nature. There is nothing in the deep root that it will lead Chinese as a nation to a state of violence and invasiveness.
Most Chinese Gods and Goddesses are deified humans. Chinese religious beliefs are wide-ranging and eclectic, deriving from several religious traditions (Chinese folk religion, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism)
Eight Immortals
