Retrieved from https://mythopedia.com/chinese-mythology/gods/eight-immortals/. Immortal definition: Someone or something that is immortal is famous and likely to be remembered for a long... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Popular during the Tang and Shang Dynasties, the Eight Immortals are said to live on a group of five islands in the Bohai Sea. Artists represent Hé Xiāngū with a full head of hair, of course. Accessed on . Translated as "Philosopher Han Xiang," is usually thought to be an historical person living during during the Tang Dynasty and related to a Confucian scholar. Zhang Guolao—Usually shown riding a white mule, Zhang Guolao often carries a bamboo “fish drum,” mallets, and a Peach of Immortality. Lü Dongbin was a very romantic, sexual deity, but was prone to bouts of drunkenness. Information and translations of immortals in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Cao Guojie was so embarrassed that he gave up his political career and retired to the countryside to study Taoism and eventually achieved immortality. It’s believed that after his final death, Zhang Guolao physically ascended to Heaven. Her lotus was believed to have the ability to improve physical and mental health. The Eight Immortals also make an appearance in the X-Men universe to protect China from the evil mutant, Xorn. The Eight Immortals were a group of nomadic humans who traversed the Spirit Wilds during the time before the Avatar, when mankind lived in walled cities and constant fear of spiritual matters. A member of the royal family in the Song Dynasty, Cao Guo Jiu is often shown dressed in official robes and holding a jade tablet or clappers/ castinets. © 2019 Wasai LLC – All Rights Reserved. Wikipedia Contributors. 6. Others. Realizing that he had been gifted with special abilities by Heaven, Han Xiangzi then decided to return to his home village where he met Lü Dongbin and Zhongli Quan who taught him about Taoism against his grand-uncle’s wishes. 3. Often translated as "Iron Crutch Li," this Immortal is rather ill-tempered but is also a benevolent patron to the sick and needy. 3.Who are the Eight Immortals? Privacy Policy, https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/eight_immortals.htm, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_Immortals, https://archive.org/details/StoriesAndMythsOfEightImmortals/page/n1, https://mythopedia.com/chinese-mythology/gods/eight-immortals/. The Eight Daoist (Taoist) Immortals and Their Emblems As a group, they symbolize Taoism, transmutation, and happiness. ", Learn Religions uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The 8 Immortals There is a group of deities in the Taoist religion called the Eight Immortals. Zhongli Quan carried a large fan that has the ability to revive the dead and materialize gold and silver out of thin air. One day, the Eight Immortals were returning from offering birthday greetings to the Queen Mother of the West. Zhang Guo Lao. Colourful stories surround the Immortals. So, Han Yu enrolled his grandnephew in a Buddhist school instead, but Han Xiangzi was still not interested in his teacher’s lessons. A humble Fenghuang Dancong. His younger brother, Cao Jingzhi, was also a court official, but abused his position and was known for being a gambler and a corrupt official. The Immortals (either separately or as a group) are legendary figures in Chinese mythology, equivalent of saints in western religion. They serve as mythological archetypes of immortality achieved through practice. The Bā Xiān’s name is made up of the Chinese characters for “eight,” bā (八) and xiān (仙) which means “immortal” or “celestial being.” Their name is also sometimes translated as “the Eight Genies.”, Cáo Guójiù (曹國舅)—This immortal’s name translates literally as “Imperial Brother-in-law Cao.”, Hán Xiāngzi (韓湘子)—Han Xiangzi’ name means “Han of the Xiang River.”, Hé Xiāngū (何仙姑)—The only woman in the group, He Xiangu’s name translates as “the Female Celestial Being.”, Lán Cǎihé (藍采和)—Lan Caihe’s name is comprised of the words for “blue” (藍), “gather” (采), and “gentle (和).”, Lǐ Tiěguǎi (李鐵拐)—Li Tieguai’s name translates as “Iron-Crutch Li.”, Lǚ Dòngbīn (呂洞賓)—Lü Dongbin’s name is made up of a character unique to his name, “Lǚ” (呂), dòng (洞), which can mean “hole” or “cave,” and bīn (賓) which means “visitor.”, Zhāng Guǒlǎo (張果老)—Zhang (張) is a common Chinese last name, while guǒ (果) means “fruit” and lǎo (老) means “old.”, Zhōnglí Hàn (鍾離漢)—Zhongli Han’s name is composed of the characters for “concentrate” (鍾), “distance” (離), and “han” (漢). Lan Caihe—Lan Caihe is often painted with a basket of fruit. Cao Guojie may have been a descendant of the Song dynasty general, Cao Bin, and younger brother of Empress Cao. Immortal definition, not mortal; not liable or subject to death; undying: our immortal souls. Hamilton, Mae. The Ba Xian are popular subjects in art and have been depicted on everything from pottery to silk paintings. He Xian Gu. She carries a lotus flower or a reed pipe instrument called the sheng. He is an actual historical figure—a scholar and poet living during the Tang Dynasty. https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/eight_immortals.htm. Taiguai Li. Directed by Danny Lee, Herman Yau. Cao Guoji… Over 1000 antique ceramics and porcelain including Chinese, Japanese, Meissen, Dutch delft and Itallian maiolica (n.d.). Whether they are regarded as historical, semi-historical, or legendary characters, the Eight Immortals represent the powers that come with transcending the limits of ordinary human existence by means of practices. The men of the Ba Xian are usually accompanied by jade handmaidens. They are said to have been born in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) or Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE), and were identified by Zhuangzi. Accessed . Ba Xian (霸 先) Chinese symbol for the Eight Immortals, which when shown together represent longevity and the breadth of all Chinese people, rich or poor, old and young, scholars, soldiers, the sick and the well. Real-Life occult alchemist who dabbled in necromancy the theater on a white mule, often facing backwards theirs is world. Shoulder, from which he dispenses medicine to heal the sick was something special about he since... That distinguishes them from others grandnephew of the Ba Xian are usually accompanied by handmaidens. 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