Who's He Xiangu? How did He Xiangu become the Eight Immortals?

He Xiangu is the only woman handed down from ancient times among the Eight Immortals. She practiced hard and accumulated virtue to become an immortal. The prototype is an extraordinary-looking woman who often holds a lotus flower. There are many stories about his life. Besides the story of Zengcheng in Guangdong, there are many stories of Guangxi, Fujian, Zhejiang, Anhui and Hunan. According to legend, when visiting immortals in the Northern Song Dynasty, the Eight Immortals climbed Mount Sun Shi at the invitation of Tie Guai Li.

Anyone who knows a little about China's traditional culture will be familiar with the term "Eight Immortals". The so-called "Eight Immortals" refer to the Eight Immortals, namely Han Zhongli, Zhang, Cao Guojiu, Han Xiangzi, Lan Caihe and He Xiangu. They are all mortals, and they practice hard to become immortals. The Eight Immortals have a unique woman, that is, He Xiangu. She is like a little red flower among the Eight Immortals, which makes her particularly eye-catching.

He Xiangu is one of the Eight Immortals' handed down works. In the old society, he was widely believed by the Han nationality and some ethnic minorities. In addition to the statue of the Eight Immortals Palace in Xi 'an, it enjoys incense in Mount Tai and Wang Mu Pond. Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, there have been many records about her deeds, second only to Lv Dongbin among the Eight Immortals. However, the origin of this fairy, which is very humanized in the legend of the Eight Immortals, is still an unsolved problem. According to the "He Xiangu Birthday" which still has temple fairs in modern times, Zengcheng's birthday is on the seventh day of March in the summer calendar, and Xi 'an Baxian Palace's birthday is on the ninth day of April. The difference of one month before and after is because the historical files are different.

There are also many legends about He Xiangu's hometown. He Xiangu's hometown, in addition to Zengcheng, Guangdong, is also known as Guangxi, Fujian, Zhejiang, Anhui and Hunan. Opinions vary, probably because there is no such person in history. According to the records of Anqing local chronicles, Qiyang county chronicles, Fujian local chronicles, Zhejiang local chronicles and Shexian county chronicles quoted in The Ancient and Modern Book Collection, there are traces and rumors of local "He Xiangu" in Tongcheng, Qimen, Wuping and Changhua, Anhui.

He Xiangu, recorded in Zhejiang Tongzhi and Shexian Zhi, was born in Yuan You period in northern Song Zhezong (1086- 1094). If according to Ouyang Xiu's records, Xiangu died of old age in Hengzhou, she is obviously another "Xiangu".