Immortals

[Dark_Samurai]

What is the legend of the 8 taoist Immortals? Who are they? Who were they? What did they do?

[David Jamieson]

Ba sien-

there are books available that tell the folklore of the 8 immortals.

They are Taoist demiurges and are used in chinese folklore to spin tales of morality.

look em up[ with google, there is reems of info about them.

cheers

[Laviathan]

The Eight Immortals were:

Zhongli Quan (aka Han Zhongli), eldest of the Eight Immortals. Achieved immortality during the Han dynasty. Was the teacher of Lü Dongbin. He holds a big fan which was known to posses the powers of Yin and Yang.

Tiekuai Li (Iron Cane Li), legend has it that during one meditation session his soul flew out of his body, travelling to many strange places. But once he wanted to return to his original body, he found out that it had already become a decayed corpse. He then found a new body: that of a crippled beggawho had just died. Since then, he was known as the Crippled Li with his Iron Cane.

Zhang Guolao, an old man riding on a donkey.

Lü Dongbin, a Taoist priest who lived during the Song dynasty, student of Zhongli Quan. He always carries two swords.

Cao Guojiu, once the brother of the Chinese Empress.

Han Xiangzi, a refined scholar playing the flute.

He Xiangu, a young beautiful lady carrying lotusses.

Lan Caihe, a hermaphrodyte who sells flowers.