The Eight Immortals are eight immortals in China Taoism and China mythology, representing men and women, the old and the young, the poor and the rich respectively. Because the Eight Immortals are all mortal, their personality is close to that of the people, and they are very important representatives of immortals in Taoism recently. Many places in China have the Eight Immortals Palace, and the Eight Immortals are also essential to welcome God. The utensils or treasures they hold are also called "eight treasures".
The origin of the Eight Immortals
The word "Eight Immortals" has always had different meanings in the history of China. It was not until the Ming Dynasty that Wu Yuantai's Journey to the East (commonly known as Journey to the East) was officially defined as Han Zhongli (or), Zhang, Han Xiangzi, He Xiangu, Lan Caihe and Uncle Cao.
The Eight Immortals of Taoism originated in the Tang and Song Dynasties, when there was a folk picture of the Eight Immortals. In Yuan Dynasty, Ma Zhiyuan's Yueyang Tower, Fan Zi 'an's Bamboo Boat and Gu Zi 'an's Willow in the South of the City all have traces of the Eight Immortals, but their members change frequently. In Ma Zhiyuan's "Three Drunk Yueyang Tower in Lv Dongbin", there is no He Xiangu, only Xu Shenweng. In Yue Bochuan's Lv Dongbin Du Tie Guai Li Yue, there is Zhang Shiro, but there is no He Xiangu. The Eight Immortals among the eunuchs on the Journey to the West in the Romance of Three Treasures in the Ming Dynasty replaced Zhang and He Xiangu with Feng Sangshou and Xuanxuzi.
Although Liu Hai (or Liu Haichan) is not among the Eight Immortals now, it is still among the Eight Immortals in many areas. Zhang in Biography of Liexian in Ming Dynasty was replaced. In some areas of Jiangxi, Liu Hai also replaced Han Zhongli with Han Zhongli, and Taiwan Province Province also replaced Lan Caihe with Liu Hai.
Japan also has a similar combination of gods called "Seven Blessed Gods", but most of them are Hindu/Buddhist gods. Due to the cultural influence of China and China, and the image of the seven gods of wealth on the treasure ship is similar to that of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, some scholars believe that the seven gods of wealth come from the Eight Immortals.
Tie Guai Li
Let's talk about Tie Guai Li first. Tie Guai Li is the first of the folklore of the Eight Immortals. Some books say that his surname is Li and his name is Hong, and he was born in Xia Dynasty. Lu Xun's A Brief History of Chinese Novels says that his surname is Li and his name is Xuan. Zhao Yi's Yu Cong Kao also said that his surname was Liu. It is said that he was a man between Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and Dali, and he studied Taoism in Zhong Nanshan. As soon as Yuan Shen came out of his shell, he never imagined that his body would be eaten by a tiger, so he had to dedicate himself to a lame beggar. According to "Fairy Mirror of Past Dynasties", her handsome husband, who is good at Taoism, will lead to the derivation of Shen Yuan's magic and practice it in Dangshan Cave. On one occasion, at the request of Lao Tzu's master, she went to Huashan, thousands of miles away, and came back a few days later, only to find that her body was burned by a disciple by mistake. Suddenly she saw a hungry ghost nearby and said with a brainwave, ". That is, from a hungry forehead, he became an ugly man with a hairy beard, a black face and huge eyes, and a lame right foot. It seems that he is a Taoist immortal, and everything is attached.
Zhong Liquan
In the Eight Immortals, Zhong Liquan is second only to Tie Guai Li in fame. He has a high position among the Eight Immortals, especially because he is highly respected by Taoism. In the Yuan Dynasty, Jin Zhendao was regarded as the "ancestor of Zhengyang". The archetypes of his characters appeared in the Five Dynasties and the early Song Dynasty. His deeds were recorded in the Chronicle of Xuanhe, Jane Yizhi and History of Song Dynasty. It was only later mistaken for the separation of Korea and China and attached to the Han Dynasty. Books such as "The Mirror of Immortals in Past Dynasties" and "A General Examination of Continued Documents" say that the compound surname is Zhong Liquan in Li Zhong, named Yun Fang Zi and Zhengyangzi. A native of Xianyang in the Eastern Han Dynasty, his father Zhong was a general of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and his brother Zhong was a corps commander, who later became an immortal. In the Tang Dynasty, there was indeed a man named Zhong Liquan. His three quatrains are recorded in all Tang poems, and it is said that "Xianyang people, when they meet an old friend, get a fairy trick, and when they meet a real person in Huayang, they go to Wang Xianren and spread to Kongtong Mountain. They were named Mr. Fang Yun, and then they went immortal. " The poems he left in the world are called Three Poems to Avoid Chang 'an Restaurant, including "Always bring a pot of wine when sitting and lying down, and don't teach your eyes to know the imperial city", "It's not easy to get the word, so I'm willing to follow it when I return", which is quite "fairy flavor" and should be a good man.
Zhang
Zhang is an old folk fairy named "Zhang Guo". Because he is the oldest person, people call him "Zhang". There is a real Zhang Guo in history, and the old and new books in the Tang Dynasty are all rumors. When Wu Zetian lived in seclusion in Zhongtiao Mountain, everyone said that he had the secret of immortality. He claims to be several hundred years old. Wu Zetian sent messengers to summon him, but Zhang pretended not to go. In the twenty-first year of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, Wei Ji, the secretariat of Hengzhou, played his anecdotes to the emperor. Xuanzong called him, and Zhang Guo pretended to be dead. It took him a long time to wake up, so the messenger was afraid to go forward. Xuanzong heard about it and sent Xu Jiao to invite him. Zhang Guo has to go to Beijing. It is said that Tang Xuanzong doubted his rumors. He once asked Xing Hepu, who was good at calculating the good and evil of dying young, to tell Zhang's fortune. I don't know Zhang Jiazi, but a teacher is good at ghosts. Xuanzong asked him to see Zhang Guo, but he asked, "Where is Zhang Guo?" I didn't see it across the street. According to historical records, Zhang Guo was just an old liar with a guilty conscience. Otherwise, why not play dead a few times to avoid being drafted? At best, it is an illusion. Therefore, the fairy tales about him are all fabricated by Taoism for the purpose of propaganda, relying on folk rumors and exaggeration. "Tai Ping Guang Ji" also records that Zhang claimed to be Emperor Yao. When Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty asked the warlock "Ye Fashan" Zhang about his origin, Ye Fashan said, "If you dare not speak, you will die." Later, he said, "Zhang Guo is a white bat essence in the beginning of chaos." He fell to the ground dead. After Xuanzong intervened, Zhang Guo saved him.
Lv Dongbin
Lv Dongbin is the most popular story in the Eight Immortals. In Taoism, Quanzhen Taoism regards him as "the ancestor of Chunyang", also known as "Lv Zu". Traditionally, most researchers believe that Lu was born in the late Tang Dynasty. His poems were included in the Summary of Jin Tang's Poems and Songs. In the Song Dynasty, Luo Dajing's A Record of He Lin Yu, Hong Mai's Jian Yizhi and Ji Xian Zhuan all recorded it. It is said that he was from Jingzhao (now Shaanxi An), and Tang Xiantong was in the Central Plains. He served as a county magistrate twice. It is said that he is from Jiujiang, originally an imperial clan of the Tang Dynasty, and his surname is Li. In order to avoid the disaster of the marquis of Wu, he changed his surname to Lu. He made his debut as Shao Guang, who spent more than 20 years in the imperial examination, so he traveled around the world and was enlightened by Zhong Liquan. He is one of the most humane Eight Immortals. He is handsome and funny, and he is good at eliminating violence for the people. He is also good at drinking and lusting. There is a legend of "Three Performances by Lu" in the world. There are numerous legends about him, but we can also see that he was originally a scholar who longed for Taoism in the Tang Dynasty, and was later deified into a fairy.
he xian gu
He Xiangu is the only female of the Eight Immortals, and there are different opinions about her life experience. She comes from the Tang Dynasty. At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, Guang Yi was quoted as "He Erniang" in Taiping Guangji. She is a peasant woman who knits shoes. Later, because her home was too stuffy, she swam in Luofu Mountain, lived in a mountain temple, and often collected wild fruits for monks to eat in. Once, a monk from Zhou Xun Mountain Temple, 400 miles away, came to Luofushan Temple and said that one day a fairy went there to pick bayberries. It was verified that that day was the day when Ernian picked the fruit. Besides, everyone doesn't know where Ernian picked so many wild fruits, so she thinks Ernian is a fairy who picks fruits in Zhou Xun Mountain Temple. From then on, Ernian became famous and no longer lived in a mountain temple. "Continued Examination" said that when Tang was born, He Xiangu was from Zengcheng, Guangdong. When he was born, there were six bright lights on his head, and he was born with a "fairy family". When he was thirteen, he met a Taoist in the mountains and ate a peach. From then on, he was neither hungry nor thirsty, and he was as light as a fly, and he could foresee the fortunes of life. Later, she was called to Beijing and left halfway. She is from the Song Dynasty. The notes of some scholars in the Song Dynasty often refer to her as a native of Yongzhou (Lingling) in the Northern Song Dynasty. Some people say that when she was young, she met strangers and became famous for eating peaches. It is said that she was grazing in the country, and when she met a stranger, she gave dates and ate them and became immortal. The notes of the Song Dynasty also recorded some deeds of He Xiangu in divination, and predicted fortunes. At that time, scholars and curious people went to other places for divination, which showed that she was just a folk witch who was good at divination.
Lan Caihe
In the Eight Immortals, there was a cynical and crazy beggar named Lan Caihe. His deeds are recorded in Shen Fen's Biography of Immortals in the Southern Tang Dynasty, Tai Ping Guang Ji in the Early Song Dynasty and Lu You's Book of Southern Tang Dynasty. He was from the late Tang Dynasty to the Five Dynasties. He is eccentric and likes drinking and singing. He usually wears a tattered blue shirt, boots on one foot and bare feet on the other. What's more unnatural is that he wears cotton-padded clothes in summer, but he lies in the snow and is steaming in winter (continuing fairy tales). Usually, he holds a big clapper more than three feet, while playing bamboo boards, while begging along the street. He sings a lot of songs, most of which are touching the scene, which makes the world feel unfathomable and fairy-like. A cloud said, "Lan Cai He, what can the world look like? Beauty is like a spring tree, and time flies. The ancients have gone and never returned, but more and more people are coming today. Ride a couple to Bibo, and watch Sang Tian give birth to Bai Bo at dusk. Changjing Minghui is in the air, and the gold and silver palace is high. " He's crazy. When someone gives him money, he will probably donate it to the poor. Lan Caihe has no fixed place to live, and is at home everywhere. The prototype of this immortal is a tramp. Just because of his madness and kindness to the poor, he is loved and deified as an immortal.
han xiang zi
Generally speaking, Han Xiangzi is the nephew of Han Yu, a famous writer in the Tang Dynasty, and has been introduced in Tang Shu, Prime Minister's Lineage Table, Youyang Miscellanies, Taiping Guang Ji, Fairy Biography and other books. A nephew named Han Yu. Historically, Han Yu did have a grandnephew named Han Xiang, who used to be an official in Cheng Dali. Han Yu once wrote a poem, "Moving to the left to show the grandnephew and grandson": "A letter plays in the sky, and the road is eight thousand. If you want to eliminate disasters for the holy dynasty, you are willing to decline and cherish the old! Where is the home of Yunheng Qinling? Snow White brought Blue Horse back. I know you should be interested in collecting my bones in the river from far away. " The legend about his immortality was first seen in Youyang Miscellanies in the Tang Dynasty. It is said in the book that Han Yu has a nephew who is young, frivolous and doesn't like reading. Han Yu once blamed him, but he was able to change the color of Zhuang Dan's flowers according to his uncle's request within seven days, and there was a poem on each flower, "Where is home in Yunheng Qinling ...", Han Yu was extremely surprised. It is also said that Han Xiangzi is Han Yu's nephew, and his deeds are similar to those in Youyang Za. Han Xiangzi's character prototype is Han Yu's nephew, immortal for five generations.
Cao Guojiu
Cao Guojiu, the last of the Eight Immortals, appeared the latest and had fewer fairy tales. His life experience and stories are similar, and they are all related to Cao Empress. There is a legend in the history of Song Dynasty, Cao Shu, the word Gong Bo, the grandson of Cao Bin, and the brother of Cao Empress. He is gentle and easy-going, familiar with temperament and loves to write poems. He was crowned King of Jiyang County, and he lived a smooth life at the age of 72. As Xianjing said, Cao Guojiu was pure and kind, did not like wealth, but yearned for the immortal way, while his younger brother was arrogant and illegal, relying on the situation to run amok. Cao Guojiu was deeply ashamed of his evil deeds, so he went into the mountains to practice, met Zhong Liquan and Lv Dongbin, and became a disciple. Cao Guojiu soon became a fairy road. Cao Guojiu described in The Journey to the West is similar to the above.
picture
Unlike many Taoist immortals, the Eight Immortals all came from the world, and they all had colorful human stories, and then got the truth. They are completely different from the images of ordinary immortals, so they are deeply loved by the people. Among them are generals, royalty, beggars and Taoist priests. They are not born immortals, and they all have some shortcomings, such as Han Zhong's topless breasts, Lv Dongbin's frivolous personality and Li Tie's strange drunkenness.
The Eight Immortals also represent men, women, children, rich and poor. Therefore, generally speaking, Taoist temples have places to worship the Eight Immortals, or the Eight Immortals Palace is set up independently, and the Eight Immortals also appear in the temple fairs of the gods.
The Eight Immortals often appear in New Year pictures, embroidery, porcelain, lanterns and plays. According to legend, the Eight Immortals regularly go to the Western Queen Mother Flat Peach Festival to celebrate their birthdays, so "Eight Immortals' Birthday" has also become a common birthday theme in folk art. When folk operas reward gods, so-called "fairy plays" such as drunken Eight Immortals or Eight Immortals' birthdays are often staged.
Eight immortals of darkness
Every Eight Immortals has one or two treasures or utensils, which are generally called "Dark Eight Immortals" or Eight Treasures. They often appear in embroidery and folk art, both of which represent auspicious meanings and change with different scenes. Among them, the more popular dark eight immortals are:
Banana fan (Han Zhongli)
Hulu (Tie Guai Li)
Flower Basket (Lan Cai He)
Lotus (He Xiangu)
Sword (Lv Dongbin)
Flute (Han Xiangzi)
Yugu (Zhang)
Yuban (Cao Guojiu)
Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea
The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea is one of the most popular stories of the Eight Immortals, which was first seen in the zaju "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea to Get Jade Board". According to legend, when the peony in Penglai Xiandao was in full bloom, Baiyun Fairy invited eight immortals and five immortals to hold a grand ceremony. On the return trip, Tie Guai Li (or Lv Dongbin) advised them to find a way by themselves, instead of taking a boat. This is the origin of "the Eight Immortals show their magical powers when crossing the sea" or "the Eight Immortals show their magical powers when crossing the sea".
At this time, the Li Tie monster dropped his other musical instrument-the iron crutch (or gourd), Han Zhongli threw a banana fan, Zhang put down his mount "paper donkey", and other immortals also threw their musical instruments into the water and crossed the East China Sea. Because the behavior of the Eight Immortals alarmed the Dragon Palace, the Dragon King of the East China Sea led a group of soldiers and crabs to theorize. Unexpectedly, there was a conflict, and Lan Cai He was taken back to the Dragon Palace. After the Eight Immortals killed the dragon, the Dragon King of the East China Sea cooperated with the Dragon Kings of the North Sea, the South China Sea and the West Sea, and suddenly the waves were stormy. At this time, Cao Guojiu took out the jade board and opened the way, forcing the huge waves to both sides and crossing the sea smoothly. Finally, the South China Sea Guanyin Bodhisattva (or Tathagata) intervened and asked the Dragon King of the East China Sea to release Lan Caihe, and the two sides stopped fighting.
In addition to the above, there are some folk legends about the Eight Immortals, including the tragic story of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea".
During the Stegosaurus period in the Northern Song Dynasty, Shamen Island (now Temple Island) was the place where the imperial court imprisoned prisoners. From the third year of Stegosaurus, all illegal soldiers were sent to Salmon Island. Year after year, there are more and more prisoners on the island. However, the imperial court only distributes food rations to 300 people in the whole island every year, and the food is becoming more and more insufficient. Later, Li Qing, the guard leader of Shaman Island, thought of a vicious method: when more than 300 people were captured, some of them were bound by their hands and feet and drowned in the sea, so that the number of prisoners on the island was always less than 300. In this way, more than 700 people were killed in two years. In order to survive, prisoners often jump into the sea to escape, but most of them are swallowed up by the rough waves. At one time, more than 50 prisoners were killed. About 30 miles from Shamen Island to Penglai, most of the prisoners were exhausted and drowned in the water, leaving only eight swimmers with strong martial arts and strong physique. They swam downstream to the shore and hid in the lion cave at the foot of Ya Dan Mountain in the north of Penglai. The next day, fishermen found them. They were all very surprised when they heard that eight people had crossed the ocean from Salmon Island to come here. They called it "God", and the story spread among the people, known as "Eight Immortals", evolved into the story of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" today.