Introduction to the Eight Immortals

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. Once 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.

Stories and legends

Also known as Li, Ming Xuan, also known as Li Ningyang, Li Hongshui and Li Kongmu. It is said that he used to be big and handsome. Practice in Dangshan Cave. Because he agreed to attend the Huashan Fairy Meeting of the old man, he told his disciples when he left that if Shen Yuan didn't come back within seven days, the chaff would be burned to ashes. So he left the shell and Shen went abroad. Unexpectedly, on the sixth day, someone in the disciple's family reported that his mother was critically ill, so the disciples burned the chaff. Disciples go home, and Li Tie's strange Yuan God will come back soon, and there is nowhere to trust. Suddenly, I saw a starving human body in the forest, and then I entered from his forehead. After I stood up, I realized I couldn't do it. I quickly poured out the elixir given by the old gentleman from the gourd. The gourd suddenly flashed golden light, reflecting an ugly image, a dark face, unkempt appearance and big eyes with tendrils. My right foot is still lame. I'm surprised. Suddenly someone clapped behind me. Looking back, it was the old gentleman. In a hurry, I want to jump out of Shen Yuan. At this time, the old man stopped and said, "Tao is not about appearance." If you look like this, you will be a real fairy if you are full of kung fu. " So he got a gold hoop to fix his hair and an iron crutch to help him limp. Li Tie monster often carries a gourd. It is said that there is a fairy medicine in it, which is specially used to cure diseases and save lives, and it has fallen to the world. 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.

Stories and legends

His surname, full name, Chinese character, and name are Zhengyangzi. Jingzhao Xianyang (now Shaanxi) is said to have come from the Eastern Han Dynasty. His birth is very vivid. It is said that one day, a giant strode into his mother's inner room and said loudly, "I am Huang Shenshi in ancient times, and I am a nurse here." Suddenly, I saw different lights burning like fire, and then Han Zhong was born. When he was born, he was as old as a 3-year-old child. He was born with a lucky face, a round forehead, thick ears and long eyebrows, a big mouth and cheeks, long lips and round arms. What's more strange is that he is silent day and night, and he doesn't cry or eat. Until the seventh day, he suddenly said: "I am traveling in Zifu, and the book is Yujing." This sentence alarmed his parents. Because Zifu and Yujing are the Miyagi of the Jade Emperor in the sky, they thought he was a reincarnation of a fairy, and their parents hoped that he would take more power when he grew up, so they named him Quan. It is said that when Li Zhong grew up, he served as an ancient adviser in the imperial court. Later, he was called to Tibet, defeated and lived in seclusion in Zhong Nanshan. When I met King Donghua, I got the real recipe for longevity, followed by fire and dragon sword. Later, I met a real person in Huayang and taught him Taiyi Drunken Road, Fireman then Road and Dong Xiao Xuanxuan Road. Finally, I got the secret that the No.4 peak jade box was forbidden in Kongtong Mountain and became a fairy. Legend has it that he transformed Lv Dongbin in the Tang Dynasty and was one of the five northern ancestors of Taoism. His image is usually bare-chested, with fan-shaped palms, big eyes, red face and two bun on his head. He is an idle man. Zhang is an old fairy named. Because he is the oldest person, people call him "Zhang". There is a real Zhang Guo in history. During the first year of Kaiyuan in Tang Dynasty, it was recorded as "Guangzong people in Xingzhou" (now from Zhangguzhai village, Guangzong county, Hebei province), a new and old Tang book. In the 21st 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 can't see across the street that "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.

Stories and legends

According to historical records, it does exist. It turned out to be a Taoist priest in the Tang Dynasty. This person is good at magic, and often lives in seclusion in Zhongtiaoshan, Hengzhou, and travels between Fenjin and Shanxi. According to Han folklore, he lived for hundreds of years, so people respectfully called him Zhang. It is said that when Emperor Taizong and Tang Gaozong knew about this, they sent messengers to the palace to summon him, but he didn't want to go. In the Wu Zetian period, he had to be called out of the mountain and play dead halfway. In the period of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, Xuanzong sent messengers to invite him to the palace and named him "Dr. Yin Lu" and "Mr. Xuan Tong". Later, Xuanzong prepared to betroth his daughter to him. He sang: "The daughter-in-law is fair, and the official is born on the ground. People are gratifying, I am awesome. " In the end, I didn't agree to this marriage. I quit my job and went back to the mountain. I walked halfway and died in Wupu County, Hengshan Mountain. Disciples said that they had become immortals, and Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty ordered the establishment of qixia temple as a sacrifice in the local area. According to the folklore of the Han nationality, he often travels around the world with Taoist drums on his back and riding an upside-down white donkey, singing Taoist sentiments and persuading people. Later, the famous folk "riding a donkey to read a song book" came from this. The white donkey he rides travels through Wan Li every day and folds up like paper at night and puts it in a box. When riding during the day, spray some water in your mouth and you will be a donkey for a day. Later generations wrote a poem: "How many people in the world are like this old man? Instead of riding backwards, everything looks back. " Zhang's story tells us that when we do anything, we should try our best to think comprehensively, instead of just looking forward and backward. In the Eight Immortals, Lv Dongbin has the most stories. In Taoism, Quanzhen Taoism called him "the ancestor of Chunyang", also known as "Lv Zu". Lv Dongbin was born in Hezhongfu, Zhou Pu (now Yongle Town, Ruicheng, Shaanxi). Formerly known as (or "Rock"), the word Dong Bin, with the same word line, the Taoist name Chun Yoko, posthumous title Hui people, the founder of the world's mainstream Taoist Quanzhen religion, is one of the famous immortals and Taoists in Han legend. Whether in Taoism or in folk beliefs, it has an extremely important position. 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. Tang Xiantong was in the middle and served as 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. Up to now, Lv Zu Temple in Yuanjiashan, built by Yuan Keli, the minister of the Ministry of War of the Ming Dynasty, is still preserved in Sui County, Henan Province.

Stories and legends

Lv Dongbin once awarded the county magistrate with Jinshi. When his mother was going to give birth to him, there was a strange smell in the house, and the air was filled with the smell of Yue Xian. A white crane fell from the sky, flew into his mother's account and disappeared. Lv Dongbin, who was born, is really outstanding. He was smart since he was a child, keeping a diary full of words and reading aloud. When I grow up, I am "eight feet and two inches long, wearing a Huayang towel, wearing a yellow cedar, and wearing a soap cymbal. I look like Zhang Zifang and don't marry at twenty." When he was a baby, Mazu saw him and said, "This child has extraordinary bones and is from the city. Meet Lu, live in the house, buckle at the sight of the clock. Pay attention. " Later, Lv Dongbin visited Lushan Mountain, saw a real dragon, and taught the Tiandun swordsmanship. When I visited Chang 'an at the age of sixty-four, I met a white-robed feather in Tsing Yi, writing poems on the wall. Lv Dongbin saw that he was eccentric and poetic, so he asked his name. Yu Shi said, "I'm Mr. Fang Yun. I live in He Ling, Zhong Nanshan. Do you want to go with me? " Lv Dongbin didn't agree. This Mr. Fang Yun is "Zhong Liquan". In the evening, Zhong Liquan and Lv Dongbin stay in the bar together. When Lv Dongbin was asleep, Mr. Fang Yun cooked for him alone. He dreamed that he was the top scholar, proud of officialdom, and full of children and grandchildren, which was extremely glorious. Suddenly, he was convicted of a felony, his family property was confiscated, and his wife and children were separated. When he was old, he knew all this. He was down and out, standing alone in the snow shivering, almost sighing. Suddenly, he woke up, and Zhong Liquan's meal was not cooked. So Zhong Liquan wrote a poem, "The yellow pipe is not ripe, and I dream of Hua Xu." "Lv Dongbin exclaimed," do you know my dream? Zhong Liquan said, "The dream you just had was full of ups and downs, with thousands of honors and sorrows. Fifty years old is like an instant! What you get is not worth celebrating, and what you lose is not worth mourning. Life is like a dream. So Lv Dongbin decided to learn Taoism from Zhong Liquan. After the test of "Ten Tests", Zhong Liquan awarded him Daoism. Lv Dongbin has Daoism and fencing skills, which can kill demons and harm people for the benefit. It is regarded as one of the five northern ancestors (Wang,,,,) by Quanzhen, and is known as the ancestor of Lv Zu and Chunyang in the world. 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. Since then, Ernian has become famous and no longer lives in a mountain temple. " He Xiangu was born in Zengcheng, Guangdong when Tang was born. When he was born, there were six bright lights on his head, and he was born with a "fairy family". At the age of 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's divination and fortune prediction for others. At that time, scholars and curious people rushed to other places for divination.

Stories and legends

The only fairy of the Eight Immortals, formerly known as He Xiugu, was born in the period of Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty. When she was born, Ziyun walked around the room with six beams of light on her head. Smart and agile since childhood, brilliant. /kloc-When she was 0/5 years old, she dreamed that God taught her to eat mica powder, so she was as light as a fly, shuttling between the mountains, going out every morning and picking berries at night to honor her mother. Later, when Wu Zetian heard about it, she sent messengers to invite her, but she didn't know the direction halfway. Some people say that she flew in Tang Zhongzong on the eighth day of August. There is also a saying that when He Xiangu entered the mountain at the age of 13, he met a fairy named Lv Dongbin and Lv Ci. After eating, he was not hungry, and he could predict good or bad luck, which was quite effective. People in the village regarded him as a god and built a building for them to live in. Later, Lv Dongbin became an immortal. 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.

Stories and legends

Originally a man, he often dresses up as a woman's dress and carries a flower basket in sculpture or opera. It is said that he was born as a barefoot fairy, but turned out to be a Taoist priest who traveled around, often wearing tattered blue clothes and a wooden belt more than 3 inches wide, with one foot wearing boots and one foot barefoot. Wear cotton-padded clothes in summer and lie in the snow in winter, breathing like steam. He often walks and sings in the city with a clapper more than 3 feet long. It seems crazy but not crazy. Men, women and children followed him, and they gave him copper coins, but he put them on with long ropes and mopped the floor. If he loses them, he won't look back. Sometimes when I see the poor, I give them copper coins. He travels around the world. He has been seen in childhood and old age, and his appearance remains the same. Later, when he got drunk at Haoliang Restaurant, there was the sound of a cloud crane playing the flute. Suddenly, he flew into the clouds, dropped his boots and belt, and left Ran Ran. His most famous tap dance song is: Tap Blue Cai He, what can the world look like? Beauty is a spring tree, and time is a shuttle. The gangsters of the ancients are gone forever. Today, more and more people come, riding couples to the blue sky, and watching Sangtian give birth to Bai Bo at dusk. The air is beautiful and the gold and silver palace is high-tech! Han Xiangzi in Tang Dynasty, whose name was Qingfu, was one of the Eight Immortals in ancient Han folk tales. He is good at playing the flute and worships Lv Dongbin as his teacher. Taoist music Introduction to Smallpox is said to have been written by Han Xiangzi. Because Han Yu refused to die in his later years, Buddhism fabricated Han Yu as a Zen master. Taoism created Han Xiangzi to offset the influence of Han Yu.

Stories and legends

It is said that he was Han Xiang, the nephew of Han Yu in the Tang Dynasty. The image is a handsome man holding a flute. Han Xiangzi, whose real name is Han Xiang. Legend has it that the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty appeased a daughter named Lingling, who was both talented and beautiful. Is engaged to Han Xiang. However, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty wanted to marry her to the emperor and nephew to appease her, but he strongly disagreed. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was furious and dismissed Han Xiang. Lingling died of grief, and Han Xianghua became a white crane. Inspired by Zhong Liquan and Lv Dongbin, he became the son of Han Hui in Changli County, whose real name was Xiangzi. He lost his father at an early age and was raised by his uncle Han Yu. When I grew up, I learned the art of spiritual practice from Zhong and Lu Erxian. Han Yu strongly opposed it and scolded him. As a result, Han Xiangzi became a monk and lived in seclusion in Zhong Nanshan, and achieved a positive result, ranking among the Eight Immortals. Later, Han Xiangzi deformed his uncle Han Yu many times, but Han Yu didn't realize it many times. Later, Han Yu was banished to Chaoyang and passed through Languan, where he was buried in the snow. Xiangzi came to clear the way and point out the maze. Han Yu finally realized that he had become a fairy. 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.

Stories and legends

The image of this immortal is wearing a gauze hat, a red robe and official clothes, and holding a yin and yang board (jade board), which is quite different from other immortals' costumes. Legend has it that he is the eldest brother of Cao, the queen of the Song Dynasty emperor. His talent is pure and good, his ambition is pure and empty, and he does not admire vanity or wealth. Later, because his brother was arrogant and disobedient, he killed someone. Deeply ashamed, Cao Guojiu hid in the rocks and wore civilian clothes and hats. But he carefully thought about the profound truth and stopped eating after 10 days. One day, he met two immortals, Zhong Liquan and Lv Dongbin. They asked, "I heard you were recuperating. What are you raising? " A: "Monk." The immortal asked again, "Where is the Tao?" Cao Guojiu raised his hand and pointed to the sky. The second fairy asked again, "Where is the sky?" Cao Guojiu pointed to his heart. The second fairy smiled and said, "The heart is heaven, and heaven is the Tao. You have understood the true meaning of Tao. " So I taught him the secret and enlightened him to join the immortal team. There is also a saying that when he became a monk, the emperor gave him a gold medal. Later, when he crossed the Yellow River, he didn't have a boat fare, so he used it as a mortgage. He happened to meet Lv Dongbin and travel with him, so he became one of the Eight Immortals because of his enlightenment. 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 Eight Dark Immortals are: Gourd (Tie Guai Li), Banana Fan (Zhong Liquan), Fish Drum (Zhang), Lotus (He Xiangu), Flower Basket (Blue Cai He), Sword (Lv Dongbin), Flute (Han Xiangzi) and Jade Plate (Cao Guojiu).

The ranking of the Eight Immortals is defined as: Tie Guai Li, Han Zhongli, Zhang, He Xiangu, Lan Caihe, Han Xiangzi, Cao Guojiu, until Wu Yuantai's The Journey to the West. Since then, nothing has changed.