The 8 Immortals in Chinese Culture and Taoism

Zhang Guolao, also known as Zhang Guo, alongside Han Zhongli and Lü Dongbin, is a real historical figure who later became one of the Immortals. The other Immortals only appear in legends. Zhang Guolao's name is recorded in the Old Book of Tang, New Book of Tang, and Great Tang New Words. His presence is said to have begun around the mid to late 7th century and ended in the mid-8th century, when he was a wandering sorcerer later mythologized as an Immortal.

He was renowned for his skills in sorcery and mysticism. His iconic image often features a rice drum and a donkey. When riding, he sits backwards, and when not, he packs the donkey into a woven sack carried on his back. He is also seen holding a musical instrument similar to a bamboo pipe, strolling leisurely while singing. Zhang Guolao represents the wisdom and insight of elderly members of a family.

Lan Caihe is one of the lesser-known Immortals in the Eight Immortals group, originally known as the Immortal Phi Phat. Their senior was the great Immortal Chi Cuu. It is still unclear whether this Immortal is male or female. Legend has it that Lan Caihe lived during the Tang Dynasty. Often depicted in attire that blurs gender, Lan Caihe is commonly portrayed as a young boy or girl, a young man or woman, or even an elderly figure carrying a bundle of flowers.

The Immortal is usually shown wearing a wide green robe with a black belt, one foot barefoot and the other in a shoe. In summer, they wear thick clothing as though unaffected by the heat, and in winter, a thin garment, seemingly immune to the cold. Lan Caihe is typically accompanied by a pair of wooden percussion instruments, called “phach,” playing music while begging for alms. Passersby would often stop to watch and donate money, with Lan Caihe gathering the coins into a string of cash to carry along.

Li Tieguai, also known as Li Tie Guai, is sometimes depicted as a short-tempered, grumpy character, but one who is kind-hearted towards the poor, the sick, and the suffering. Those he helps find relief from their burdens through a special medicine he carries in a gourd he often wears on his shoulder.

Li Tieguai is considered the most powerful Immortal and the first to achieve immortality, helping others ascend to immortality just as he did.

He is typically portrayed as an old, unattractive man, with a dirty face, scruffy beard, messy hair, and a golden band on his head. He walks with the aid of an iron staff and often carries a gourd, either hanging from his shoulder or in his hand. Some describe him as a humorous figure who descends to the mortal world disguised as a beggar, using his powers to help the oppressed and downtrodden. Li Tieguai is strongly associated with medicine, and in China, the image of his iron staff can still be found hanging outside traditional herbal medicine shops. The gourd filled with immortality medicine is the most iconic symbol associated with him, often used by professional sorcerers.

Han Xiangzi, according to legend, was a disciple of Lü Dongbin, learning Taoist philosophy and music, and is credited with composing the Taoist tune 'Heavenly Blossom Song.' Folklore later suggests he was a descendant of Han Yu from the Tang Dynasty, with the name Han Xiang. However, the historical discrepancies between these two figures make it difficult to confirm this connection.

Han Xiangzi was renowned for his flute-playing skills and could create soothing melodies that would bring about positive changes in the surrounding environment. It is said that when he played his flute, plants would bloom and grow rapidly. His special ability was to make trees grow instantly. Han Xiangzi’s image often features him carrying a bag full of young saplings, symbolizing a prosperous and flourishing life.

He Tian Zi, also known as He Qiong or He Tu Zi, is likely the only female immortal among the Eight Immortals in Taoism. Illustrations of her often depict a beautiful woman holding a lotus flower. It is believed that the lotus flower she carries has the power to improve human health. Sometimes she is shown with a musical instrument called a sheng or accompanied by a phoenix, carrying a bamboo spoon or a whisk.

Legend has it that she was born as a male named Xu Sheng, but was later transformed into a woman (with some stories claiming she underwent a gender change). She was exceptionally filial, taking care of her ill mother, which led to her achieving immortality. As a child, she was known to have six whorls on her head, which people considered a sign of destiny. After becoming an immortal, He Tian Zi is often depicted holding a sacred lotus and a whisk. Displaying her image in the home symbolizes prosperity and good fortune.

Han Chung Li, originally known as Chung Li Quan, was a prominent general during the Eastern Han Dynasty. He is often regarded as the leader of the Eight Immortals (though some believe that the title belongs to Lü Dongbin). Han Chung Li is revered by the Quan Zhen School as one of the Five Immortals of the North, with the title 'Zheng Yang Zhen Ren'.

He is typically depicted as a plump man with curly hair and a round belly, wearing an open robe that reveals his stomach. Han Chung Li wields a magical fan capable of bringing the dead back to life. This fan symbolizes abundant health and vitality.

Legends about Han Chung Li date back to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, continuing into the early Song Dynasty. He is mentioned in works such as 'Xuanhua Nianpu', 'Song Shu', and 'Di Jian Zhi'. It is said that the room where he was born was filled with radiant light, and as a child, he cried non-stop until he turned seven days old. In Taoist tradition, his birthday is celebrated on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month every year.

Lü Dongbin, born Lü Yan and also known by the title 'Hui Dao Xun', is one of the most revered figures in Taoism. He is recognized as one of the 'Five Rulers of the Five Blessings' and is honored as one of the Five Immortal Masters by the Quan Zhen School, an important school of Taoism. Lü Dongbin is also a central figure in the inner alchemy (Neidan) tradition and the harmonious blend of the Three Teachings: Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. In Chinese folklore, he is worshiped as the god of dreams, the god of literature, the god of examinations, the god of gold mining, the god of barbers, as well as a martial arts deity and the god of wealth.

Lü Dongbin is believed to possess profound magical abilities, frequently portrayed as a savior of the people, helping to alleviate suffering and rid the world of misfortune. He is highly venerated in northern China, where people refer to him as Lü Xian Gong (Immortal Lü) or simply as Tiān Gōng (Heavenly Lord) in Taiwan. Lü Dongbin, along with figures like Guan Yu (the Lord of War), Yue Fei (the General), the Kitchen God (Zao Jun), and Wang Ling Guan, is often worshiped as part of the Five Blessings.

Being a Taoist by origin, Lü Dongbin is depicted wielding a magical whisk (fa chan) and a sword, using them to exorcise evil spirits and heal the sick. As a result, keeping his image in the home is said to bring peace and protection from illness.

Cao Guo Jiu is the biological son of Empress Dowager Cao, from the Song Dynasty, which is why he is referred to as Guo Jiu. He is typically depicted wearing official robes and holding a jade tablet, and sometimes, a clapper. His jade tablet is said to have the power to purify the environment. Cao Guo Jiu is revered as the patron deity of artists, particularly those involved in performing arts. He is credited with the skill of playing the clapper, earning him the title 'Patron Saint of Actors and Performers'.

Cao Guo Jiu was acquainted with Lü Dongbin and Han Zhongli, but eventually renounced the pursuit of wealth and fame. Unlike other immortals, his attire stands out as he wears the robes of an official, symbolizing nobility and dignity. Therefore, Cao Guo Jiu represents career advancement and the smooth progress of all endeavors.

One theory suggests that he was the younger brother of Empress Dowager Tzu Sheng Guangxian, the wife of Emperor Song Renzong. However, other sources provide conflicting details regarding his birthplace. Some suggest he came from Zhen Ding (now Ningjin, Xingtai, Hebei), the hometown of his mother, while others believe he was born in Suzhou (now Suzhou, Jiangsu Province).