The Eight Immortals
2 min readThe Eight Immortals are Chinese deities.Their portraits are seen everywhere-on porcelain vases，teapots，teacups，fans，scrolls and embroidery.
Each immortal’s power can be transferred to a tool of power that can give life or destroy evil.
Traditionally，“eight”is a lucky number，and therefore the“Eight Immortals”
are associated with good fortune.In the Ming Dynasty，Wu Yuantai wrote a book called The Origin of the Eight Immortals and their Trips to the East. Hereafter，the legend of the Eight Immortals gradually spread across the country，and their images became popular among Chinese people.Below are some descriptions of each immortal.
Li Tieguai or Iron-crutch Li is the most ancient of the Eight Immortals.He is depicted as a lame beggar，carrying a crutch.His spirit frequently leaves his body to wander the Earth and Heaven.
Han Xiangzi is a happy immortal.He is depicted holding a lotus flower，
and sometimes with a sheng（a flute）to accompany him.His lotus flower improves mental or physical health of people and animals.
Lan Caihe is the least known of the Eight Immortals.Lan Caihe’s age and gender are unknown.Lan is depicted often as a girl or boy，but sometimes as a woman or a man.She or he carries a flower basket.His or her behavior is out of norm and deemed strange by most people.
Li Dongbin is the most widely known of the Eight Immortals and hence considered by some to be the de facto leader.Dressed as a scholar，he often holds a sword that dispels evil.
Cao Guojiu was said to be the uncle of the Emperor of the Song Dynasty.
He is shown in the official’s court dress with a jade tablet which can purify the environment.
He Xiangu was born with six golden hairs on her head，and she spent her life as a hermit in the mountains.In a dream，she was instructed how to achieve immortality by the other Immortals.
Zhong Liquan is one of the most ancient of the Eight Immortals and the leader of the group.In Daoism，he is known as Original Master Truly-yang. His fan can revive the dead.
Zhang Guolao is the last of the Eight Immortals.Known as Master Comprehension-of-Profundity，he claims to be several hundred years old.
