The eight immortals were said to be free from
the control of Jade Emperor (The supreme deity of Taoism), and Tai Shang Lao
Jun ( the ancientor of Taoism). The stories about their curbing the violent
and assisting the weak, are well known among the folks. People often place
hopes on these Immortals.
LI TIE GUAI
Li Tie Guai was one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism, and also known an Tie Guai Li. When he achieved his ambition of becoming Taoist priest, his soul could leave his body to make a trip. Once when his soul was away, his body was burnt by his student, so when his soul returned, it could only attach itself on another dead body. Then he turned out to be an Immortal in an unkempt appearance with and unbuttomed shirt and bare feet. The bamboo stick of the dead was turned to be a steel one. He took a gourd with him and became remarkably powerful.
LU DONG BIN
He was one of the Eight Immortals, and also known as Chun Yang. He was born in Tang Dynasty, failed in passing the highest imperial examination for twice, and began rolling about. When he was 64, he learnt to be an Immortal, and named himself “Hui Dao-ren”. He had a sword called “yin-yang sword:, and eliminated the evils for the people in Jiang Huai areal There are many short stories about him in the legends of the Eight Immortals, which are very popular among the folk.
HAN ZHONG LI
One of the Eight Immortals of Taoism, he was also names as Han Zhongquan. He was formerly a general of the Han Dynasty. Once he met an Immortal who told him how to become an Immortal, then he went up to the mountains to learn the Taoism. When he came down from the mountains, he was with great power and showed kindness to people. At last he went up to the heaven and became and Immortal.
ZHANG GUO LAO
Zhang Guo Lao, was the eldest among the Eight Immortals of Taoism, and lived in the Tang Dynasty. He often rode on a donkey at a speed of thousand li (1 li = 1/2 km) per day, and the donkey felt no thirst. While he was having a rest, the donkey could be folded up as papers, and it could turn out to be the donkey again when he blew it.
HAN XIANG XI
Han Xiang Zi, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism, It is said that he was the nephew of Han Yu, a great writer of Tang Dynasty, When he was young, he studied Taoism. Once hemet Master Chun Yang and later became Immortal. He had foresight and had the power to make wine with empty winecups, and bring out flowers from soils.
CAO GUO JIU
Cao Guo Jiu, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism. He lived in Song Dynasty, and was the Younger brother of the Emperor Zhao’s mother. But his younger brother builied others with the strength of his position. Once he killed someone and ran away. Cao Guo Jiu felt shame for it, and hid in the mountains trying to learn Taoism. Later he met Han Zhong Li, Lu Dong Bin, and began to study with the Immortals and became and Immortal himself.
LAN CAI HE
One of the Eight Immortals of Taoism.
He often dresses himself in gagged and with only one shoe on. In the summer, he puts on his cotton padded clothes but with no sweat, while in the winter he lays on the ice, hot air rising from his head.
Sometimes, he holds a pair of castanets in downtown area. One day, when he was drunk in a wineshop, a voice produced by Sheng (a reed pine wind instrument) was heard and he went up to the sky holding ba basket of flowers.
HE XIAN GU
He Xian Gu, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism, She was born in Zencheng in Tang Dynasty. When she was fourteen or fifteen she lived in Yun-mu Xi. Someone told her in a dream, that she should eat some mica powder, After eating the powder, she became and immortal and could walk very quickly as if she were flying and could predict a person’s fortune.
