Have you ever wondered who the Eight Immortals are and what they represent?
One of their most famous stories goes like this: One day, the Queen Mother of the West (西王母) invited the Eight Immortals to a banquet in her heavenly palace. After the banquet, while they were returning to their celestial abode, they reached the East Sea, home to the Dragon King. To cross the sea, each Immortal decided to display their special talents by using only one of their iconic symbols or objects. The Dragon King was not pleased with the Immortals' display of magic in his domain and saw it as a challenge to his authority. A battle ensued between the Immortals and the Dragon King's forces. Using their unique powers and skills, the Eight Immortals defeated the Dragon King's army and safely crossed the sea.
While the tale of their encounter with the Dragon King is a popular one, there are countless stories featuring the Eight Immortals. These stories often carry moral or instructional messages, emphasizing the virtues of humility, patience, and perseverance. In Chinese mythology, the Eight Immortals
are believed to know the secrets of nature. They represent separately male, female, the old, the young, the rich, the noble, the poor, and the humble Chinese. Each Immortal's power can be transferred to a tool of power, a kind of talisman associated with a specific meaning that can give life or destroy evil.
Together, these eight tools are called Hidden Eight Immortals or Covert Eight Immortals.
Zhang Guolao's drum can augur life.
Lu Dongbin's sword can subdue evil.
Han Xingzi's flute can cause growth.
He Xiangu's Water Lily can cultivate people through meditation.
Tie Guaili's gourd can help the needy and relieve the distressed.
Zhong Liquan's fan can bring the dead back to life.
Cao Guojiu's jade board can purify the environment.
Lan Caihe's basket of flowers can communicate with gods.
The Eight were called the Roaming Immortals in Daoist legends.
Not only are they revered by Daoists but by all of Chinese society. They are the base for various literature and folk tales and are pictured in art. Symbols represent the characteristic attributes of each Immortal, and they were depicted on a wide variety of porcelain, bronze, ivory, and embroidered objects. [1]
