Each of the Ba Xian have their own special object from which they draw their powers. Li Tieguai carried medicine in his gourd that could cure any illness and gave it to those who need it the most. He Xian Gu. https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/8.html Thought to be an actual historical figure, his name translates literally as "Imperial Brother-in-Law Cao. The best-known mural of the Eight Immortals can be found at the Eternal Joy Temple in Ruicheng, China. Being a popular symbol, the eight immortals are often depicted in various art forms - from statues to wall hangings to various household items. The Ba Xian (八仙), also called the Eight Immortals, are a group of legendary heroes of ancient times who fight for justice and vanquish evil, according to Chinese mythology. Hamilton, Mae. He was also associated with the culturally-significant story of “The Yellow Millet Dream.” In this legend, Lü Dongbin fell asleep at the stove while cooking a pot of millet. Paper's Digest. He is the one with the cane and gourd. Li T’ieh-kuai. https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/eight_immortals.htm. One day, the Eight Immortals were returning from offering birthday greetings to the Queen Mother of the West. Hamilton, Mae. The Jackie Chan movie, Drunken Master, is based off the myth of the Ba Xian and the group even appear in the animated series, Jackie Chan Adventures. 4. in English Language and Literature from the University of Texas at Austin. Cao Guojiu—In paintings and illustrations, Cao Guojiu can be seen holding a jade tablet. “Stories and Myths of Eight Immortals.” Internet Archive. When he woke up, he was left feeling confused and empty. Zhongli Quan carried a large fan that has the ability to revive the dead and materialize gold and silver out of thin air. During a meditation session, he materialized into a cloud of gold dust and ascended to heaven. Eight Immortals. He served as a prominent general of the Han Dynasty. In the series, they were the ones who banished the eight Demon Sorcerers to the Netherworld and locked their portals with the Pan'ku Box. One day after getting very drunk, Lan left the mortal world by riding to heaven on the back of a crane. ", Learn Religions uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Members of the Eight Immortals and the Old Man of the South Pole (a longevity deity) are sometimes depicted carrying a Peach of Immortality.. Because of the stories and the peach's association with long-life, peach is a common decoration (the fruit or an image thereof) on traditional birthday cakes and pastries in China. The 8 Immortals There is a group of deities in the Taoist religion called the Eight Immortals. 5. Lü Dongbin was a very romantic, sexual deity, but was prone to bouts of drunkenness. A humble Fenghuang Dancong. Cao Guojiu was once an official who served in the Imperial Court. Zhongli Quan. Ba Xian (霸 先) Chinese symbol for the Eight Immortals, which when shown together represent longevity and the breadth of all Chinese people, rich or poor, old and young, scholars, soldiers, the sick and the well. He is regarded as a patron deity for highly literate people; some also see him as a champion of the medical profession. But they also show her holding a lotus as a symbol of her openheartedness, or carrying a peach as a symbol of her immortality, or playing celestial music on a kind of reed instrument called a shēng 笙. Daoist Temple Relief of the Eight Immortals Cao Guojie was so embarrassed that he gave up his political career and retired to the countryside to study Taoism and eventually achieved immortality. Kästle, Klaus. © 2019 Wasai LLC – All Rights Reserved. Taiguai Li. He/she is a decided eccentric, serving to symbolize a carefree life devoid of the concerns and responsibilities of ordinary life. The Eight Daoist (Taoist) Immortals and Their Emblems As a group, they symbolize Taoism, transmutation, and happiness. Furthermore, for the Eight Immortals, it is said that "each immortal's power can be transferred to a vessel (法器) that can bestow life or destroy evil." Immortal definition: Someone or something that is immortal is famous and likely to be remembered for a long... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples “Eight Immortals.” Mythopedia. Yanjia, Li and Nathaniel Hu. And so, the Eight Immortals decided to go down to the ocean surface and play. Macau cops begin to suspect a man running a pork buns restaurant of murder, after tracing the origin of a case full of chopped up human remains … Han Xiangzi—Usually depicted holding or playing a flute, Han Xiangzi is a musical prodigy. This may be the best known of all the Immortals, and is sometimes consider their leader. Hamilton, Mae. Each of the Ba Xian have defining characteristics or objects that distinguishes them from others. The immortals are said to live on the mythical island of the blessed, or, Penglai Shan, It is said to be surrounded by water so weak that it will not hold a ship, yet they alone can walk across it. Translated as "Philosopher Han Xiang," is usually thought to be an historical person living during during the Tang Dynasty and related to a Confucian scholar. Definition of immortals in the Definitions.net dictionary. As an ever-growing archive, our mission is to catalog the world’s mythology on the web for all to enjoy. Taiguai Li. Directed by Danny Lee, Herman Yau. Li T’ieh-kuai, depicted always with his crutch and gourd full of magic medicines, was of … Among the Eight Immortals celebrated in Taoism, a number seem to have had actual historical existences. 8 IMMORTALS. Five Element Chart. He/she often carries a bamboo flower basket and/or a pair of bamboo clappers/ castinets. In the Marvel Comic book series, The Immortal Iron Fist, there are eight extra-dimensional kung-fu masters called the “Eight Immortal Weapons” (based off of the Ba Xian) that appear to protect the Earth in times of need. (Today the expression "eight immortals cross the sea" can refer to each member of a group making a distinctive contribution to … She is often depicted carrying a lotus flower, said to improves one's mental and physical health. A member of the royal family in the Song Dynasty, Cao Guo Jiu is often shown dressed in official robes and holding a jade tablet or clappers/ castinets. During his life, Zhang Guolao was something of an eccentric and was known to drink water from the petals of poisonous flowers, snatched birds out of the sky with his bare hands, and enjoyed traveling at least a thousand miles a day on the back of his trusty white mule. His name translates as “Zhongli of the Han Dynasty.”. A few of the Ba Xian are said to be related to powerful ancient Chinese officials and poets. The Immortals are comprised of Cao Guojiu (曹國舅), Han Xiangzi (韓湘子), He Xiangu (何仙姑), Lan Caihe (藍采和), Li Tieguai (李鐵拐), Lü Dongbin (呂洞賓), Zhang Guolao (張果老), and Zhongli Quan (鍾離權). See more. They are said to have been born in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) or Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE), and were identified by Zhuangzi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_Immortals. Others. Many people may initially snicker at Chinese medicine and their herbal tinctures the way they may scoff at a snake-oil salesman back in the 1800s, but to associate the two is grossly ignorant of the over 5,000 year history of well-documented research by the Chinese herbal masters. Although they have always been an important part of Chinese oral history, their stories were first recorded by the Ming Dynasty poet Wu Yuantai. Likely a purely mythological figure, Zhongli Quan is usually shown with his chest and stomach exposed, holding a fan with which he can resurrect the dead and transform stones into precious metals. Wikipedia Contributors. Born with exactly with six hairs on her head, it was obvious that there was something special about He Xianggu since her birth. Often considered the only woman among the Immortals, He Xian Gu is said to be the daughter of He Tai, living in Zengcheng, Guangdong. Learn more. She carries a lotus flower or a reed pipe instrument called the sheng. Lu Dongbin's symbol is a magic sword that dispels evil spirits and provides him with invisibility. Accessed on . Meaning of immortals. Lan Caihe—Lan Caihe is often painted with a basket of fruit. But, just a few days later, he was seen alive and on a nearby mountain. Li Tieguai was then forced to inhabit the body of a dying homeless man. The Ba Xian are popular subjects in art and have been depicted on everything from pottery to silk paintings. Each immortal's power can be transferred to a power tool (法器) that can bestow life or destroy evil. 6. The best-known example is the Baxian Gong Each of these symbols is the attribute of one of the Eight Immortals - legendary figures said to have obtained immortality through the elixir of life produced by alchemy or by eating magic fruits. The Eight Immortals of Taoism can be interpreted in a psychological, archetypal manner, much the way the characters of other ancient mythologies have come to symbolize human needs and wishes at a collective, universal level. His wife, thinking that he was dead, cremated his body and buried the ashes. 3. Cao Guojie may have been a descendant of the Song dynasty general, Cao Bin, and younger brother of Empress Cao. He is one of the Immortals known with fair certainty to be an actual historical figure. Han Xiangzi was thought to have been the grandnephew of the prominent politician and poet, Han Yu. Mae Hamilton, “Eight Immortals,” Mythopedia, accessed , https://mythopedia.com/chinese-mythology/gods/eight-immortals/. They serve as mythological archetypes of immortality achieved through practice. “Eight Immortals.” Wikipedia. His military exploits took him to Tibet where he learned Taoist teachings and devoted himself to meditation. The Eight Immortals were a group of nomadic humans who traversed the Spirit Wilds during the time before the Avatar, when mankind lived in walled cities and constant fear of spiritual matters. Chinese traditional religion is polytheistic; many deities are worshipped in a pantheistic view where divinity is inherent in the world. Lan Caihe was described as an intersex person, or a man who believed he was meant to be a woman. For devout believers, a central tenet of the ancient Chinese practice of Taoism is the belief that adhering to certain beliefs and practices can lead to very long life, even immortality. In his dream, he worked his way up to a lofty position in the Chinese government, married, got fired, and divorced over the course of 18 years. He was once a beloved Tang Dynasty poet who was immortalized as a member of the Ba Xian after his death. He Xiangu 何仙姑. Xi (西 安) is the God of joy and is sometimes pictured with the Stellar Triad. Even though they are occasionally represented in individual portraits, they’re most often drawn or painted as a full group. While some of the Immortals were real people, the magical and mystical tales surrounding these practitioners make it impossible to distinguish historical from mythological reality. Cao Guojie tried to make up for his brother’s grievances and used his own money to pay off his gambling debts, yet his younger brother was eventually formally charged with corruption of power. Accessed . He is regarded as the patron of actors and the theater. The Bā Xiān’s name is made up of the Chinese characters for “eight,” bā (八) and xiān (仙) which means “immortal” or “celestial being.” Their name is also sometimes translated as “the Eight Genies.”, Cáo Guójiù (曹國舅)—This immortal’s name translates literally as “Imperial Brother-in-law Cao.”, Hán Xiāngzi (韓湘子)—Han Xiangzi’ name means “Han of the Xiang River.”, Hé Xiāngū (何仙姑)—The only woman in the group, He Xiangu’s name translates as “the Female Celestial Being.”, Lán Cǎihé (藍采和)—Lan Caihe’s name is comprised of the words for “blue” (藍), “gather” (采), and “gentle (和).”, Lǐ Tiěguǎi (李鐵拐)—Li Tieguai’s name translates as “Iron-Crutch Li.”, Lǚ Dòngbīn (呂洞賓)—Lü Dongbin’s name is made up of a character unique to his name, “Lǚ” (呂), dòng (洞), which can mean “hole” or “cave,” and bīn (賓) which means “visitor.”, Zhāng Guǒlǎo (張果老)—Zhang (張) is a common Chinese last name, while guǒ (果) means “fruit” and lǎo (老) means “old.”, Zhōnglí Hàn (鍾離漢)—Zhongli Han’s name is composed of the characters for “concentrate” (鍾), “distance” (離), and “han” (漢). 7. He usually is featured with a long beard reaching to his navel. The only woman in the group, He Xiang is the daughter of a shopkeeper born in … It is unknown just how many Taoists practitioners have achieved immortality. He Xian Gu, Cao Guo Jiu, Taiguai Li, Lan Caihe, Lu Dongbin, Han Xiang Zi, Zhang Guo Lao, Zhongli Quan These eight gods are believed to be able to fly, disappear, and use magic. Each of the immortals represents an important aspect of living (much like the bagua does) and each god is said to possess a particular power. The religious tradition of Taoism venerates a group of eight xian (immortals) who offer a concrete symbol of this ability to transcend the limitations of ordinary human life through the beliefs and practices of Taoism. Cao Guoji… And finally, He Xiangu was the daughter of a man from Guangdong, China named He Tai (何泰). The best-known mural of the Eight Immortals can be found at the Eternal Joy Temple in Ruicheng, China. She is the author of several books on spirituality, including "Physics, Philosophy & Nondual Spiritual Inquiry. He is usually depicted carrying a gourd slung over his shoulder, from which he dispenses medicine to heal the sick. His disciples buried his body, but when they came back a few days later to pay their respects, they discovered his corpse had disappeared. Zhongli Quan—In artwork, Zhongli Quan is the one shown with robes that reveal his bare belly and a long beard that reaches his navel. Li Tie Guai (李鐵拐; pinyin: Lĭ Tiĕ Guăi) The Iron-Crutch Li. Lan Caihe. Mae Hamilton is a freelance journalist with a B.A. For Taoists, he is regarded as a protector of children and as patron of wine and the good life. However, in their symbols was a portion of the banished Demon's chi … Over 1000 antique ceramics and porcelain including Chinese, Japanese, Meissen, Dutch delft and Itallian maiolica Li Tieguai—It is easy to spot LI Tieguai in art. Whether they are regarded as historical, semi-historical, or legendary characters, the Eight Immortals represent the powers that come with transcending the limits of ordinary human existence by means of practices. The eight immortals and good fortune symbols ... A decorated basket of flowers represent riches and therefore the motif is a popular one used during the New Year period. Eight Immortals 八仙 . Before he became an immortal, Lü Dongbin’s name was Lü Yán (呂巖), and underwent ten trials to prove to Zhongli Quan that he was worthy enough to become his disciple. Lü Dongbin—Traditionally depicted dressed in scholar’s robes, Lü Dongbin typically holds a large sword. 3.Who are the Eight Immortals? The term ‘Eight Immortals’ is used to signify or represent happiness, and the number 8 is considered lucky by association, therefore objects or persons in that number are graced accordingly. So, Han Yu enrolled his grandnephew in a Buddhist school instead, but Han Xiangzi was still not interested in his teacher’s lessons. Think of Fuk Luk Sau, for example, or the Laughing Buddha. Realizing that he had been gifted with special abilities by Heaven, Han Xiangzi then decided to return to his home village where he met Lü Dongbin and Zhongli Quan who taught him about Taoism against his grand-uncle’s wishes. The founder of Taoism, Laozi (also known as Lao-Tsu), is of course thought to be an immortal, as is his spiritual descendent, Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu). https://mythopedia.com/chinese-mythology/gods/eight-immortals/. Their powers include: Even for Taoists who do not believe in the literal existence of the Eight Immortals and the powers they represent, these characters offer a source of inspiration, devotion, and even simple entertainment. Han Yu enrolled Han Xiangzi in a Confucian school, to better prepare him to become an official, but Han Xiangzi had no interest in his studies. One day, Han Xiangzi picked a blooming peony and showed his grand-uncle that he had developed the ability to change the color of the flowers. However, countless numbers of hermits and wandering Taoist sages, whose levels of realization were known only to themselves, may also be among the numbers of immortals. Immortal definition, not mortal; not liable or subject to death; undying: our immortal souls. Her lotus was believed to have the ability to improve physical and mental health. Today, the eight immortals represent the hope for long life and abundant good fortune in the present world. Even though they are occasionally represented in individual portraits, they’re most often drawn or painted as a full group. He Xiangu is the only woman of the group. 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