Eight Immortals, the

In Chinese mythology, a group of unrelated figures who became immortal and were entitled to live in heaven and attend the banquets given by the Lady Wang, wife of the Jade Emperor.

Lists of their names differ, but the most commonly used are: Li T'ieh-kuai, Chung-li Ch'uan, Lu Tung-pin, Lan Ts'ai-ho, Chang Kuo, Han Hsiang, Ts'ao Kuo-chiu, and Ho Hsien-ku (the only woman). As a group, they first appeared in the 13th century.

Li T'ieh-kuai was a Taoist ascetic and yogi whose spirit left his body to go to his teacher, Lao Zi, in heaven. His body was cremated on the sixth day, and when Li's spirit returned on the seventh day he had to take the body of a lame beggar who had just died. Pictures show him leaning on an iron staff with a gourd slung across his back. Chung-li Ch'uan was a mountain recluse who is depicted with a fan and a tassle of horsehair in one hand and the peach of immortality in the other. Lu Tung-pin was a recluse on the Stork Peak near Kuling, where a fire-dragon is said to have given him a magic sword with which he performed amazing feats. His characteristics are the sword, carried on his back, and a switch of horsehair in his hand. Lan Ts'ai-ho was a singer and flute-player who sang in the streets until he was taken up to heaven by a stork. His characteristic is a flute held to the lips by both hands. Chang Kuo was a mysterious person who declined a high government position and is usually seen holding a phoenix feather and riding a white donkey which, when resting, can be folded up like a piece of paper. Han Hsiang miraculously produced two flowers on the petals of which a poem of two lines was written in gold. He is shown carrying a gourd-shaped basket filled with peaches of immortality. Ts'ao Kuo-chiu gave all his money to the poor and became a mountain recluse. He is represented as dressed in official robes and hat, holding a tablet in his right hand. Ho Hsien-ku was a beautiful woman who, at the age of 14, ate mother-of-pearl in order to gain immortality. She is depicted carrying a lotus flower.