In the Chinese mythology, there are eight Taoist immortals or deities. The exact years in which these immortals lived cannot be ascertained but it is generally accepted that they are active during the Tang or Sung Dynasty.
Each of the immortals has a certain special power and magical talisman which allows them to help the poor and needy, and to defeat the evil forces.
Legend has it that the eight immortals lived on the Penglai Island (蓬莱仙岛).
Li Tieguai (Iron-Crutch) (铁拐李)
He was once a very handsome man. He gained enlightenment under the guidance of the founder of Taoism (太上老君).
He often sat in meditation and his spirit would leave his body to travel to the heaven. On day, he told his disciple his spirit would leave his body for seven days and the disciple should guard it during the time. However, on the sixth day, the disciple got news that his mother was sick and he needed to go home fast. In a hurry, he cremated his master's body. When Li's spirit returned, he couldn't find his body. The only body available nearby at that time was the corpse of a beggar with a lame leg. He entered into the corpse and that is the reason why instead of his original handsome appearance, he has the loathsome shape of a cripple.
Han Chongli (钟离权)
As a general, he was sent on an expedition against the enemy in the North. He lost the war and became a fugitive riding alone through wild and mountainous country. On his journey he met an old man at a village who taught him an infallible magic process for attaining longevity, knowledge of divine elixirs and the Green Dragon Swordsmanship.
Zhongli Quan later retired to Mount Kongtong and took up his abode on the Red-gold Peak. There he found a jade casket containing the arcana of Taoism, and, having attained immortality, departed this world.
Chang Guolao (张果老)
Elder Zhang Guo was a hermit who lived in the Zhongtiao Mountain (中条山).
He often rode on a white donkey and traveled thousands of miles a day. Whenever he stopped to rest, he would fold his donkey up like a piece of paper and slipped it into his box. When he wished to ride again, he would spew water over it, and transformed it back into a donkey. Empress Wu once summoned him to the palace but he refused and feigned death.
Han Chiangzi (韩湘子)
Not long afterwards, Han Yu was banished to a minor post in Chaozhou over his opposition to the Emperor's enthusiasm over the Buddha's bone. On his way to Chaozhou, Han Yu was stranded by a snowstorm. All of a sudden, Han Xiangzi appeared. Han Yu inquired what the name of the place was, and was told "the Lan Pass". Han Yu was astonished by the accuracy of Han Xiangzi's previous prediction. That night they both stayed at an inn beside the Pass. Knowing that Han Yu was dispirited, Han Xiangzi cheered him up by saying, "You will soon be back again, not only in good health, but also reinstated in your former office." All of these prediction later came true.
Female Immortal Ho or Ho Chiangu is the one of female immortals of the Eight Immortals. She was born in the town of Zeng Cheng of Guangdong province as the daughter of He Tai (何泰).
At the age of 14, a deity appeared to her in a dream and taught her to consume powdered mica so that she can become an immortal. She took the powder as instructed and vowed never to marry. She often wandered in the valleys and walked very fast as if flying. Gradually she gave up taking ordinary food. Finally, she ascended to Heaven in broad daylight and became an immortal.
Han Chiangzi was a hermit in the Tang Dynasty. He wore a ragged gown, with one foot in a boot and the other bare. In summer he had his gown padded with cotton-wool, and in the winter he used to sleep on the snow, and vapour of steam would arose from his body. He wandered through the country begging and singing to the rhythm of his castanets. In a half-crazy way he sang songs which were related to immortality, and were therefore unintelligible to ordinary mortals. One day, while in a tavern, sound of reed-organ and flute was heard. Lan Caihe suddenly rose to the clouds, dropped down his shoe, gown, belt and castanets, and gradually passed out of sight.
Lü Dong-bin (吕洞宾)
One day, while in a tavern in Chang'an (长安), he met Zhongli Quan. While the latter was cooking a pot of yellow millet, Lu Dongbin reclined on his pillow and fell asleep. He dreamt he took the imperial examination and excelled. He became a government official and eventually rose to the position of prime minister. He was married twice, and both wives belonged to families of wealth and position. Children were born to him. However, his success attracted the jealousy of others who accused him of a grave crime. All his possessions were confiscated, and his wife and children separated. He became a solitary outcast. At this moment he woke up to find that the yellow millet was still being prepared! He came to a sudden realization of the impermanence of fame, glory and wealth. As a result, he went with Zhongli Quan to cultivate the Tao.
Ts’ao Guojiu (曹国舅)
