Refine your search

The results of your search are listed below alongside the search terms you entered on the previous page. You can refine your search by amending any of the parameters in the form and resubmitting it.

Select all Deselect all Add selection to lightbox
Large Small
Thumbnails per page
The Eight Immortals are a group of legendary <i>xian</i> (immortals) in Chinese mythology, folk religion and Taoism. The Eight Immortals are believed to have been born in either the Tang or Song Dynasty, though they were first described in the Yuan Dynasty, most likely named after the Eight Immortals Scholars of the Han.<br/><br/> The names of the Immortals were: He Xiangu; Cao Guojiu; Li Tieguai; Lan Caihe; Lu Dongbin; Han Xiangzi; Zhang Guolao; and Zhongli Quan. They were each said to have in their possession a tool with which they could transfer their power to and either bestow life or destroy evil, known as the 'Covert Eight Immortals'. They were believed to have lived on a group of five islands, including Penglai Mountain-Island, in the Bohai Sea.<br/><br/> The Eight Immortals are considered signs of longevity and prosperity, and are very popular in art and literature. They are a commonly seen element in secular Chinese culture and revered by Taoists, with many shrines dedicated to them scattered throughout China, Taiwan and Singapore.
The Eight Immortals are a group of legendary <i>xian</i> (immortals) in Chinese mythology, folk religion and Taoism. The Eight Immortals are believed to have been born in either the Tang or Song Dynasty, though they were first described in the Yuan Dynasty, most likely named after the Eight Immortals Scholars of the Han.<br/><br/> The names of the Immortals were: He Xiangu; Cao Guojiu; Li Tieguai; Lan Caihe; Lu Dongbin; Han Xiangzi; Zhang Guolao; and Zhongli Quan. They were each said to have in their possession a tool with which they could transfer their power to and either bestow life or destroy evil, known as the 'Covert Eight Immortals'. They were believed to have lived on a group of five islands, including Penglai Mountain-Island, in the Bohai Sea.<br/><br/> The Eight Immortals are considered signs of longevity and prosperity, and are very popular in art and literature. They are a commonly seen element in secular Chinese culture and revered by Taoists, with many shrines dedicated to them scattered throughout China, Taiwan and Singapore.
He Xiangu, sometimes written as He Xian Gu and born as He Qiong, is a Chinese mythological character and one of the Eight Immortals in the Daoist pantheon. She is often portrayed as the only woman among the Eight Immortals, though sometimes Lan Caihe's sex is portrayed somewhat ambigiously. He Xiangu is said to have been born and lived during the Tang Dynasty.<br/><br/> He Xiangu was the daughter of He Tai, a man from Guangzhou, and she was born with six long hairs on the crown of her head. When she was around 14 or 15 years old, she was visited in her dreams by a divine persoange who instructed her to eat powdered mica, so that her body could become etherealised and immune from death. She eventually ascended to Heaven in broad daylight, becoming a <i>xian</i> (immortal).<br/><br/> He Xiangu is often depicted holding a lotus flower, which improves one's physical and mental health. She also sometimes carries a musical instrument known as a 'sheng' or a 'fenghuang', and can also be depicted with a bamboo ladle or a fly-whisk.
The Basian (Baxian) Caves (Caves of the Eight Immortals) show evidence of human habitation during the Paleolithic Age. Most of the caves are now full of Buddha and bodhisattva images.
The Basian (Baxian) Caves (Caves of the Eight Immortals) show evidence of human habitation during the Paleolithic Age. Most of the caves are now full of Buddha and bodhisattva images.
The Basian (Baxian) Caves (Caves of the Eight Immortals) show evidence of human habitation during the Paleolithic Age. Most of the caves are now full of Buddha and bodhisattva images.
The Eight Immortals (Chinese: Baxian; Pa-hsien) are a group of legendary 'xian' (immortals; transcendents; fairies) in Chinese mythology. Each Immortal's power can give life or destroy evil. Most of them are said to have been born in the Tang Dynasty or Song Dynasty.<br/><br/> They are revered in Daoism (Taoism) and are also a popular element in secular Chinese culture. They are said to live on a group of five islands in the Bohai Sea which includes Penglai Mountain-Island.
The Eight Immortals (Chinese: Baxian; Pa-hsien) are a group of legendary 'xian' (immortals; transcendents; fairies) in Chinese mythology. Each Immortal's power can give life or destroy evil. Most of them are said to have been born in the Tang Dynasty or Song Dynasty. They are revered in Daoism (Taoism) and are also a popular element in secular Chinese culture. They are said to live on a group of five islands in the Bohai Sea which includes Penglai Mountain-Island. The Immortals are:<br/><br/> 1. Immortal Woman He (He Xiangu)<br/><br/> 2. Royal Uncle Cao (Cao Guojiu)<br/><br/> 3. Iron-Crutch Li (Tieguai Li)<br/><br/> 4. Lan Caihe<br/><br/> 5. Lu Dongbin, (leader) 6. Philosopher Han Xiang (Han Xiang Zi)<br/><br/> 7. Elder Zhang Guo (Zhang Guo Lao)<br/><br/> 8. Han Zhongli (Zhongli Quan)<br/><br/> In literature before the 1970s, they were sometimes translated as the Eight Genies. First described in the Yuan Dynasty, they were probably named after the Eight Immortal Scholars of the Han.
Li Tieguai, also known as Tieguai Li and born as Li Yuan, is a Chinese mythological character and one of the Eight Immortals. Though he is often portrayed as being ill-tempered and irascible, he is benevolent and kind to the poor, sick and the needy, curing and alleviating the pain of others with special medicine from his magical gourd. Li Tieguai was said to have been born during the Yuan Dynasty.<br/><br/> In Chinese folklore, Li Tieguai was said to have originally been Laozi's apprentice, which would have put his birth some time in the sixth century BCE rather than during the Yuan Dynasty. Either way, he is said to have devoted himself to religious contemplation for 40 years, overcoming various tests and tasks Laozi set for him eventually becoming an immortal.<br/><br/> Li Tieguai was said to have been a handsome man once, but during his path towards immortality, there was an incident when his spirit left his body and ascended to Heaven to meet other immortals. While away, his body was cremated, and when Li's spirit returned, he had to enter the corpse of an ugly and disheveled homeless beggar who had just recently starved to death. Li Tieguai is the second most popular of the Eight Immortals, and associated with medicine.
Li Tieguai, also known as Tieguai Li and born as Li Yuan, is a Chinese mythological character and one of the Eight Immortals. Though he is often portrayed as being ill-tempered and irascible, he is benevolent and kind to the poor, sick and the needy, curing and alleviating the pain of others with special medicine from his magical gourd. Li Tieguai was said to have been born during the Yuan Dynasty.<br/><br/> In Chinese folklore, Li Tieguai was said to have originally been Laozi's apprentice, which would have put his birth some time in the sixth century BCE rather than during the Yuan Dynasty. Either way, he is said to have devoted himself to religious contemplation for 40 years, overcoming various tests and tasks Laozi set for him eventually becoming an immortal.<br/><br/> Li Tieguai was said to have been a handsome man once, but during his path towards immortality, there was an incident when his spirit left his body and ascended to Heaven to meet other immortals. While away, his body was cremated, and when Li's spirit returned, he had to enter the corpse of an ugly and disheveled homeless beggar who had just recently starved to death. Li Tieguai is the second most popular of the Eight Immortals, and associated with medicine.
Li Tieguai, also known as Tieguai Li and born as Li Yuan, is a Chinese mythological character and one of the Eight Immortals. Though he is often portrayed as being ill-tempered and irascible, he is benevolent and kind to the poor, sick and the needy, curing and alleviating the pain of others with special medicine from his magical gourd. Li Tieguai was said to have been born during the Yuan Dynasty.<br/><br/> In Chinese folklore, Li Tieguai was said to have originally been Laozi's apprentice, which would have put his birth some time in the sixth century BCE rather than during the Yuan Dynasty. Either way, he is said to have devoted himself to religious contemplation for 40 years, overcoming various tests and tasks Laozi set for him eventually becoming an immortal.<br/><br/> Li Tieguai was said to have been a handsome man once, but during his path towards immortality, there was an incident when his spirit left his body and ascended to Heaven to meet other immortals. While away, his body was cremated, and when Li's spirit returned, he had to enter the corpse of an ugly and disheveled homeless beggar who had just recently starved to death. Li Tieguai is the second most popular of the Eight Immortals, and associated with medicine.
Han Xiangzi, whose courtesy names were Qingfu and Beizhu, is a Chinese mythological character and one of the Eight Immortals. Han Xiangzi is believed to have been known as Han Xiang before his immortality, and was born in the Tang Dynasty, the grandnephew of promiment poet and scholar Han Yu.<br/><br/> Han Xiangzi became an immortal under the tutelage of Lu Dongbin, another of the Eight Immortals, who taught him the Taoist magical arts that would eventually lead to his apotheosis and immortality. He is often depicted with a 'dizi' (Chinese flute), and has therefore been regarded as the patron deity of flutists. Han Xiangzi is believed to have been the composer of the Taoist musical piece 'Tian Hua Yin'.
Cao Guojiu (Imperial Brother-in-law Cao), whose real name was Cao Yi and courtesy name was Jingxiu, is a Chinese mythological character and one of the Eight Immortals. Better known to his contemporaries as Cao Jingxiu, Cao Guojiu is believed to have been a descendant of Cao Bin, a general of the early Song Dynasty, and the younger brother of Empress Cao, wife of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/> Cao's younger brother Cao Jingzhi abused his imperial connections to engage in corrupt practices, leading to his brother trying to change him, with little success. Cao Guojiu also used his family's wealth to help the poor and balance his brother's misdeeds. After his brother was caught and accused by Imperial offricials for his misdeeds, Cao was so ashamed that he gave up his office and retired to the countryside as a recluse. He then met the immortals Zhongli Quan and Lu Dongbin, who taught him Daoist magical arts and helped him become immortal.<br/><br/> Cao Guojiu is often depicted in official imperial robes and holding a jade tablet or castanets. He is often recognised as the patron deity of acting and theatre.
Zhongli Quan, also known as Han Zhongli and whose courtesy name was Jidao, is a Chinese mythological character and one of the Eight Immortals. Zhongli Quan was believed to have been born in the Han Dynasty, in Yanjing.<br/><br/> It is said that during his birth, bright beams of light filled the labour room, and that after he was born he did not stop crying for seven full days. His distince features marked him out for greatness however, and he began speaking fluently either after seven days or seven years. He followed in his father's footsteps and became a member of the imperial court, becoming a general in the Han army. He fought and was defeated by the Tibetans, causing him to flee into the mountains, where he came across an old man in a spiritual sanctuary. From there he learned the ways of alchemy and immortality.<br/><br/> Armed with his alchemical knowledge and a magic fan, he began creating silver and gold coins from stones and saved people from famine and poverty. One story tells that his constant use of his magical fan eventually caused his descent into the clouds of immortality. The other story claims that he was meditating in his hermitage when one of the walls collapsed revealing a jade vessel that contained the elixir of immortality.
Lu Dongbin, whose birth name was Lu Yan and courtesy name Dongbin, is a Chinese historical character and one of the most famous of the Eight Immortals, considered by many to be the de facto leader. He is officially mentioned in the history book 'History of Song', and was often portrayed as a clever and scholarly man with a genuine desire to help people marred by flaws such as his philandering, his bouts of drunkenness and his short temper.<br/><br/> Lu Dongbin was born during the Tang Dynasty, some time around 796 CE, and was said to have been very intelligent even as a child, though he twice failed the top-level civil service exam to become a government official. He one day dreamed of getting all he had wanted, only to lose it all in the end and dying in the street alone, a dream caused by Zhongli Quan to make Lu Dongbin realise the dangers of placing too much importance on success and transient glory.<br/><br/> Lu Dongbin subsequently left to become Zhongli Quan's disicple, passing ten trials before he was deemed worthy of becoming immortal. Since then, Lu Dongbin has embarked on various adventures and stories with his fellow immortals. He is still worshipped to this day, though not by people with romantic problems, and is considered one of the earliest masters of 'neidan', or internal alchemy.
Lan Caihe is a Chinese mythological character and one of the Eight Immortals. He is perhaps the least defined of the Eight Immortals, with his age and even his sex never clearly defined. Therefore, he is often depicted as a boy or girl dressed in sexually ambigious clothing and carrying a bamboo flower basket and a pair of bamboo castanets.<br/><br/> Lan Caihe was said to have been stuck in a drunken stupor when he was swept up from the human world by a celestial swan or crane, which took him to heaven. Some stories say that he was aided in his journey to become an immortal by Sun Wukong, who transferred 500 years of magical powers to him.
Zhang Guolao, also known as Zhang Guo, is a historical figure and one of the Eight Immortals. He is said to have been born during the middle or end of the 7th century CE, during the Tang Dynasty, and was a Taoist 'fangshi' (occultist-alchemist) who lived as a hermit on Zhongtiao Mountain. Zhang was portrayed with a strong love for wine and winemaking, and was a master of 'qigong' (life energy cultivation), able to survive for days without food and only a few sips of wine.<br/><br/> Zhang Guolao claimed to be several hundred years old by the time Empress Wu Zetian came to power. He traveled often on the back of a white donkey or mule, which he could fold away and place in his pocket after he was done traveling. He constantly declined invitations to the courts of the Tang Dynasty emperors, only agreeing to leave his hermitage when Wu Zetian asked. However, he died just as he reached the gates of the Temple of the Jealous Woman, his body swiftly decomposing. He was soon seen alive and well on Zhongtiao Mountain however.<br/><br/> Zhang Guolao was considered the most eccentric of the Eight Immortals, known as an entertainer and for his various whimsical acts.