The 8 Immortals are the eight most important deities in Chinese mythology. They are all known by different names and are usually represented by instruments, like the bamboo tube drum, or the Han Zhongli. The 8 Immortals also include Han Xiangzi, who plays the flute and is considered the healer. They are all mostly male, with the exception of He Xiangu, who is ambiguous in gender.
Zhongli Quan
Chinese mythology considers Zhongli Quan to be one of the Eight Immortals. This legendary figure is most often depicted with a bare belly and is said to have various powers. These include knowledge of the elixir of life and the ability to resurrect the dead.
During the Zhou dynasty (1122-256 BC), Zhongli Quan was a great military commander and learned alchemy. Later, he went on to study in Tibet. Afterwards, he became a hermit and studied esotericism.
Legends claim that Zhongli Quan can bring the dead to life with his fan. The Chinese 8 deity is also known as the ‘chief of the Eight Immortals’. His attributes include the power to turn rocks into precious metals and resurrect the dead. His image has a rotund shape that emphasizes his strength and power. The god is also pictured with a white mule.
Another deity is Zhang Guo-lao. This old man is said to be immortal and is shown carrying a long bamboo cane, called the ‘Fish Drum.’ This object contains two rods fitted with hooks which can make different sounds. His legend flourished during the late 7th and early 8th centuries. He was often accompanied by a donkey and was said to travel up to a thousand miles a day.
The Chinese 8 deity Zhongli Quans are a set of immortals in the Taoist pantheon. These deities are known for their power over the elements and are also credited with bringing prosperity and protection to humans.
Lu Dongbin
Lu Dongbin was an immortal who fell in love with the White Peony in Luoyang. He slept with her many times but refused to lose his Yang essence. His Iron-Crutch Li taught her how to ejaculate. Then, she absorbed Lu Dongbin’s Yang essence and cultivated herself.
Lu Dongbin is one of the Eight Immortals, who play an important role in Chinese religion. They are revered for their knowledge of the Daoist philosophy and cultivation practices. They are also popular figures in mythology. While they are most often depicted as a group, each has individual stories, iconography, and patronage.
Some accounts of Lu depict him as a womanizer and heavy drinker. It is said that Lu used his powers to sleep with women and even tried to seduce the bodhisattva Guanyin. This tradition, however, is not a part of the popular consensus.
Lu Dongbin is considered a highly intelligent deity who is also prone to drinking and getting angry. However, he gained many secrets from Zhongli Quan and developed the methods taught to him. This contributed to the spiritual development of mankind. His portraits typically show him in robes and holding a large sword. In addition, Lu Dongbin is considered the patron deity for barbers.
Among the eight deities, Lu Dongbin was the one who protected the travelers during the famous Journey to the West. He is also the only woman in the Ba Xian group. He is depicted holding a lotus flower, accompanied by a magic sword. He is the most similar to Santa Claus in the pantheon of Chinese deities.
Han Xiang Zi
Han Xiang Zi is a deity who represents the joy of life. He is often shown with a flute, and is a patron saint of musicians. According to legend, he was the great-nephew of Han Yu, who lived from AD 768 to 824. His flute has five holes in the upper portion and one hole in the lower section. It is commonly played by women. The sound of the flute is said to divert negative energy.
Han Xiangzi possessed the ability to change the color of flowers. He was once cruel to his classmates, but was soon discovered to have magical powers. Through Taoism, he learned to manipulate the colors of flowers. He also acquired a flute and composed a song that makes flowers bloom.
Han Xiang Zi was one of the Eight Immortals, a group of Daoist deities that play an important role in Chinese religion. Known for their role in teaching Daoist philosophy and cultivating people, they have also been portrayed in popular mythology. They are also known to be devout advocates of the downtrodden. Most often, they are depicted as a group, but they each have their own stories, iconography, and areas of patronage.
Han Xiang Zi is a popular Chinese deity. The Chinese believe he is related to powerful ancient Chinese officials. He is believed to be a descendant of the Song dynasty general Cao Bin, who was also the younger brother of the Empress Cao. His niece, He Xiangu, is a descendant of the 9th century scholar He Tai.
He Xiangu
The lore of the Chinese 8 deity He Xianggu describes her origins. As a poor girl living during the T’ang dynasty (618-907 C.E.) she was visited by an immortal in a dream. She was instructed to eat powdered stones found in a distant mountain stream, and her body would be light as air. In order to accomplish this, He Xiangu vowed to stay a virgin for the rest of her life.
The Chinese 8 deity He Xianggu has many forms. Typically she is pictured holding a lotus flower, though her image may include other objects. She may also be seen holding a fenghuang, a musical instrument. Other images of the goddess include a bamboo ladle and a fly-whisk.
He Xianggu’s gender is not known for certain, but many scholars believe she is the granddaughter of the powerful politician He Tai. She is the only female of the Chinese 8 deity, although the male counterparts have the same names. In addition to the female incarnation of He Xiangu, a female counterpart of the male is known as Cao Guo-jiu.
The female counterpart of He Xiangu, Zhang is a scholarly and a necromant. He was said to have been the Grand Minister of Emperor Yao in his previous life. He also enjoyed wine, which was said to have medicinal powers. His wine was popular among other Eight Immortals.
Cao Guojie
Cao Guojie is one of the eight immortals of Chinese Daoism. He appears in a number of different forms in the classical corpus. Sometimes he is depicted in official robes and holding a tablet that indicates his rank. Among other things, this tablet signifies that he has the right to attend palace audiences. Although he is often portrayed as a member of the group, the story of his ascent into the immortals is told separately, in the form of a myth.
Cao Guojie is a special patron of actors and stage performers. He was once the brother of a Song Dynasty empress. However, he was disgusted by the corruption in the court and retreated to the mountains to meditate. His subsequent actions earned him the title of patron deity for the arts.
The Ba Xian are also popular deities in Chinese art. They are sometimes represented as an individual or a group, and can be depicted in portraits. The most famous mural depicting the Eight Immortals can be found at the Eternal Joy Temple in Ruicheng, China. Each of the Eight Immortals has its own unique characteristics. For example, Han Xiangzi is often depicted with a flute, since he is considered a musical prodigy.
The Chinese eight deities, or “Immortals”, have long been associated with prosperity and longevity. As a result, they’ve been prominent in Chinese art since ancient times.
