What is the relationship between the Eight Immortals?

The legend of the Eight Immortals originated very early, but there are many versions of characters.

the Eight Immortals

For example, the Eight Immortals in Huainan refer to the Eight Immortals who helped Liu An, the king of Huainan in the Western Han Dynasty, write Huainan Zi. King Huainan is a good immortal, an elixir, and later generations call him an immortal. The theory of the Eight Immortals in Huainan may be related to this matter. During the Five Dynasties, Taoist painters painted in Shu, including Rong Chenggong, Li Er, Dong Zhongshu, Zhang Daoling, Yan Junping, Li Babai, Fan Changsheng and Mr.

The Song of Drinking Eight Immortals written by Du Fu in Tang Dynasty refers to Li Bai and eight literati who are good at writing poems and drinking. Today's so-called Eight Immortals were formed in the Yuan Dynasty, but their personalities are different.

By the time Wu Yuantai wrote Travel Notes of the Eight Immortals in the East in the Ming Dynasty, the story of Tie Guai Li and other Eight Immortals crossing the sea had been circulated day by day, and the Eight Immortals characters had also stabilized in the circulation. The Eight Immortals have different origins and different times. Zhang Guo, a Taoist priest in the early Tang Dynasty, first appeared in Historical Records and was a real person.

In the Five Dynasties and the early Song Dynasty, fairy tales about Lv Dongbin were very popular, which contributed to the spread of Taoist inner alchemy. In the Song Dynasty, the "Golden Deer Single Knife" was widely circulated. Quanzhen religion rose in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties. In order to respond to folk beliefs and legends to promote their teaching methods, Zhong Liquan and Lv Dongbin are regarded as the five great ancestors of the North. Folklore and drama are developed with Taoist immortals as the carrier, and the stories of the Eight Immortals are widely spread and rich in content. Lv Dongbin is the central figure in the formation of the Eight Immortals, and Taoism calls him Lv Zu. Taoist temples everywhere, especially Quanzhen Taoist temple, offer sacrifices in an endless stream.

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.

the Eight Immortals

At that time, there was already a picture of the Eight Immortals among the people. In the Yuan Dynasty, the Yueyang Tower in Ma Zhiyuan, the bamboo boat in Fan Zi 'an and the willow tree in the south of Guzi 'an all had traces of the Eight Immortals, but their members often changed. 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.

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-Tie Guai Li

In the Eight Immortals,

Tie Guai Li

Tie Guai Li is the oldest and most experienced person, but he appeared in literary works later. Also known as "Li Tieguai". Yuan zaju "Lv Dongbin Du Tie Guai Li Le" began to have its name. There are many legends about the origin of life experience. When it comes to the Queen Mother of the West becoming immortal, she is granted the title of leader of Donghua and an iron staff. Speaking of real floods, he often begs in the city and is despised by people. After that, he used an iron bar to throw air pockets like a dragon, and Lapras died like a fairy. When I said my family name was Li Mingxuan, I didn't know it until I met the old gentleman. One day, I wandered to Huashan Mountain, met the old gentleman in Taishang, and told my disciples not to return for seven days to reform themselves. But the disciple wanted to go home because his mother was ill, and he was dissolved in six days. On the seventh day, Li Xuan returned to his soul, but he was attached to the body of a lame beggar. He was unkempt and limping, and the bamboo pole leaning on him with water turned into an iron crutch, hence the name Li Tieguai.

Tie Guai Li, also known as Li Tie, was originally named Li Yuanzhong. Some people say that Li Ningyang, some people say that Li Kongmu, and some people say that his name is Li Hongshui and his nickname is Guaier. As for his time, it was even different. One is from the Sui Dynasty, and the other is from the Tang Xuanzong and Daizong periods. Legend of the Immortal said that he had a relationship with Li Laojun, who was from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. However, "The Mirror of Immortals in Past Dynasties" said that he was an ancient god and was a king before Emperor Huang and Emperor Yan. These things are hard to figure out. If there really is a beggar named Li with iron crutches in the world, it is estimated that it will not surpass the Sui and Tang Dynasties at the earliest. Beggars don't have any nickname "Yuan Zhong". As for "Ningyang", it was just made up by Taoist priests in Zhengyang and Chunyang, and had nothing to do with beggars, so Tie Guai Li called it "Li Hongshui" appropriately.

But Li Hongshui's deeds are really not brilliant enough, and they are short-lived. According to "A General Examination of Continued Documents", there was a flood of names in the Sui Dynasty, and beggars in small print, also known as Tieguai, often begged in the city, which was despised by people. After throwing the cavitation dragon with an iron bar, Lapras left. In this way, the stories made up by Taoist priests are easier to spread and more easily talked about.

Eight immortals-Han Zhongli

Han Zhongli,

Han Zhongli

One of the Eight Immortals of Taoism. Quanzhen religion in Yuan Dynasty was regarded as "the founder of Zhengyang" and one of the five northern ancestors. Its theory began in the Five Dynasties and the early Song Dynasty. According to legend, Li Zhong's surname is "Zhengyangzi" and "Mr. Fang Yun". The Legend of Immortals says: Zhong Liquan, a native of Yantai, was a general of the Han Dynasty. During the conquest of Tubo, he was jealous of his boss, Liang Yi, and only gave him 30,000 old, weak and disabled soldiers. As soon as he arrived at his destination, he was robbed by the Tubo army, and the sergeant fled. Zhong Liquan also fled to a valley and got lost on the road. But "Ji people have their own nature", met a monk Hu, took him to a small village and said, "This is Mr. Donghua's residence." And say goodbye. After a while, I suddenly heard someone say, "This must be because Ren Hu with blue eyes is very talkative." I saw an old man dressed in the original skin of a white deer and holding a green thistle stick. He asked Zhong, "Is this man a general of the Han Dynasty? Why not stay with the monk? " Zhong Liquan was afraid and knew that he had met a stranger, so he sincerely studied Taoism and begged the old man to learn how to save the world. The old man taught Zhong Liquan's "Dragon True Decision", followed by fire and dragon fencing. Zhong later met the real Huayang and the immortal king and learned to live forever. Finally, I lived in the No.4 peak of Zijin Mountain in Kongtong Mountain, and got the "Jade Box Secret", making it a real fairy. The Jade Emperor named him "a real person in Taiji Zuogong".

On the other hand, Li Zhonghan was from the Tang Dynasty. At the same time, he called himself "Han Zhongli", and later generations read it under the word "Han", so he called it "Han Zhongli". His father was a prince and was very influential at that time, so Zhong Liquan grew up in a rich family. Legend has it that when his mother gave birth to him, a dazzling light came in and lit up the room. I don't know where the strong light came from, and everyone is worried that something will happen. After a while, the bright light gradually disappeared, and the room was suddenly dark. When everyone is used to it, they find that the child has been born! The whole family gathered around him, discussing noisily. His forehead is big, his nose is high, and what's more strange is that his arms are longer than his knees. He is a very strange-looking man.

When Zhong Liquan grew up, he developed a good martial arts. Because of his father, he had the opportunity to perform in the court. Later, he was more valued by the emperor and became a general. Once, the emperor ordered him to lead an army to pursue Tubo, but because he was not familiar with the path, he got lost unconsciously on the way. He thought to himself, "This is terrible. Maybe I will die here!" " "Zhong Liquan has been riding around, but always can't find a way out. At this moment, a Tibetan monk suddenly appeared. So Zhong Liquan waved to the monk and said, "This old gentleman, would you please tell me the way out?" "Don't panic, benefactor. Please come with me. " Say that finish, the monk turned and left.

Han Zhongli

Zhong Liquan followed him for about two or three miles and stopped at a luxurious manor. The Tibetan monk said to him, "This is the place where Mr. Donghua lived before his death, and now he has become an immortal. You can rest here for one night and leave tomorrow! " With that, the monk left. Zhong Liquan didn't dare to disturb others, so he climbed into the wall to find a place to sleep. But I heard someone talking in the room, so I stopped to listen. That's the voice of an old man. "This Tibetan monk is really talking. Busy again tonight! " Say that finish, the old man pushed the door and came out, just to see Zhong Liquan. Zhong Liquan was startled, and the old man said to him loudly, "Aren't you Zhong Liquan, the general of the Han Dynasty? How can you run here? " "Yes, I'm Zhong Liquan." Zhong Liquan was surprised, but he answered honestly. "It is fate that you can come here. That's good. I think you look unusual, so I'll teach you some magic. " Zhong Liquan had the idea of seeking Tao after death long ago. Now, after listening to Dong Huazi's lecture, he even bowed to the immortal happily and said, "Thank you, immortal, please worship the disciples." As a result, it took Zhong Liquan only ten days to learn the secret of immortality. After he finished his studies, he reluctantly bid farewell to the immortal, but when he stepped out of the manor and looked back, he saw weeds and nothing.

After returning to the Central Plains, I met the real Huayang again by chance, and the real Huayang, that is, Mr. Donghua, not only formally accepted him as a disciple, but also taught him some advanced Daoism, and gave him the Taiyi multiplier and the Inner Dan of the Fire Operator. Zhong Liquan made great contributions to the imperial court, and became fascinated with Taoism in his later years, so he resigned and retired and traveled around the world. Finally, he became an immortal in Kongtong Mountain, Shandong Province. When Zhong Liquan became an official, he did many things for the people because he came from the Han Dynasty. In order to commemorate him, later generations all honored him as "Han Zhongli".

Eight immortals-Zhang

Zhang,

Zhang

Zhang, named after his advanced age, is one of the legendary Eight Immortals. "Qingyang County Records" and "Zhengning County Records" all recorded: "Zhang's tomb is 70 miles east of the county (Luochuan)." "There is a hole in the east of the county seat. According to legend, Lao Guo lived in seclusion in an alchemist, so he had a tomb. " The tomb of Zhang is now at the foot of the continuous mountain in Xipo Township in the hinterland of Ziwuling. Jing Qing, the imperial adviser of Zuodu in the Ming Dynasty, once wrote a poem "Zhenning County Name", saying: "If the fruit is old, the immortal will stay in the tomb, and Meng Tian will give the old city a gift."

Zhang's story was first seen in Ming Taizu Miscellanies. Biography of Zhang Guo is found in both old and new books of the Tang Dynasty. According to historical records, he lived in Zhongtiao Mountain for a long time and traveled between Fenjin. He claimed that he was born in Yaodu, and Tang was several hundred years old. Then heaven sent messengers to summon him, that is, to play dead. Later generations saw him living in Hengshan again. He often rides donkeys upside down, walks like the wind, reads books while walking and travels around famous mountains and rivers. Fold the rest donkey and hide it in the towel box. He was called to Beijing by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty to perform various spells, and was named as "Dr. Yin Lu" and "Mr. Xuan Tong". Zhang begged to return to Hengzhou, and Ming Chengzu sent messengers to enlist. I died at the news, and I opened the coffin to test it. It turned out to be an empty coffin, so he worshipped Qixia. Zhang often sings the Taoist sentiment with the fish drum. The so-called "fish drum often has Sanskrit sound". The idiom "Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying his magical powers" is a story. It is said that one day, the Eight Immortals came home drunk from the flat peach party of the Queen Mother of the West and passed by the East China Sea, only to find that the white waves were overwhelming and the water potential was huge. Lv Dongbin launched the Haidong Tour, but he didn't show the skills of the immortal family. He must each throw something and ride it. The immortals responded one after another and showed their magical powers. Zhang crossed the river with a paper donkey. Therefore, people call the gourd, fan, jade plate, lotus, sword, flute, flower basket, fish drum (vessel) and other utensils they hold "the Dark Eight Immortals".

One of Zhang Zhong's Taoists. Also known as Zhang Guo. According to the records in the Tang Dynasty, there was a real person who was a folk charlatan and was regarded as a fairy because of folklore. Living in Zhongtiaoshan, Shanxi, he said that when Yao was born, he had the law of immortality. Emperor Taizong and Tang Gaozong (Wu Zetian's husband) recruited him from time to time, but he refused. Wu Zetian also told him to come out of the mountain, and Zhang played dead in front of the temple. It was midsummer, and soon, his body rotted and stinked. Upon hearing this, Wu Zetian had to give up. But soon someone saw him in the mountains of Hengshan.

Zhang

Tang Xuanzong summoned him several times to seek eternal life. Tang Xuanzong saw Zhang, who was old and frail. He asked, "Mr. Wang is an enlightened man. Why is he so careless and senile? " Zhang Dao: "It's a pity that in the decadent years, there were no magic soldiers to follow, so it became what it is now. But if these sparse residual teeth are pulled out today, can't new teeth grow? " So he pulled out his sideburns and photographed his teeth in front of his temples. Xuanzong was a little scared and asked someone to help Zhang to rest. After a while, Zhang returned to the temple. Sure enough, his face was refreshed, his temples were green and his teeth were white. So the dignitaries at that time rushed to worship the secret of rejuvenation, but they were all rejected by him.

Once, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty went hunting and caught a big deer, which was slightly different from ordinary deer. The cook is preparing to cut the deer. When Zhang saw this, he quickly stopped him and said, "This is a fairy deer. It has a history of more than one thousand years. I followed when Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty hunted. Although Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty captured the deer, he later released it. " Xuanzong said, "The world is big and there are many deer, but times have changed. How do you know that he is the deer you mentioned? " Zhang said: "When Emperor Wu released his weapon, he made a sign in the lower left corner with a bronze medal on it." So Xuanzong ordered someone to check. Sure enough, there are two-inch bronze medals, but the handwriting is blurred. Xuanzong asked again, "When did Emperor Wu hunt? How many years have it been? " Zhang said, "It has been 852 years." Tang Xuanzong ordered people to check it, and it was correct.

Zhang Guishan died soon, and Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty built the Qixia Temple for him. Zhang has a quirk. Riding a white donkey on weekdays, I can go to Wan Li every day. Of course, this donkey is also a "god donkey". It is said that when he is not riding, he can fold it up and put it in his purse.

One of the Eight Immortals of Taoism in He Xiangu. There are many stories about his life. Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian and other places have local He Xiangu. However, there are many legends about why my daughter met a fairy on the road, ate Xiantao or jujube and became a fairy, not knowing hunger. Intellectuals who can predict fortunes and are good at flying are suitable. One man said that he was a disciple of Lv Dongbin.

Eight Immortals-He Xiangu

He Xiangu,

he xian gu

Daughter of Hetai in Zengcheng, Guangzhou in Tang Dynasty. According to legend, in 14 or 15, God taught people to eat mica powder, but they died when it was light. Jinglong skyrocketed during the day. The world calls He Xiangu, and customs are one of the Eight Immortals. About her hometown, in addition to Zengcheng, Guangdong, there are many sayings such as Guangxi, Fujian, Zhejiang, Anhui and Hunan. Opinions vary, probably because there is no such person in history.

Another story is He Xiangu, formerly known as He Xiugu, who was born on the seventh day of February in Wu Ze. Her father runs a tofu mill, and she has been his helper since childhood. When she was thirteen or fourteen, she went to play in the wild and met Zhang, who was traveling in the clouds. Sanxian gave her peaches, jujubes and mica flakes. From then on, she never felt hungry again, but she could also predict the future and know people's fortune. The villagers built a small building for her and asked her to live there. People often come here to ask her for fortune telling. Gradually, He Xiugu's name became He Xiangu.

Fairy Wonderland says: He Xiangu is a daughter named He Tai from Zengcheng, Guangzhou. I was born with six hairs on my head. At the age of sixteen, I dreamed that the fairy taught him: "Eating mica powder can strengthen your body and live forever." So she listened to the fairy's instructions, ate mica, vowed not to marry, and often traveled to and from the valley, hiking like flying. Go out every morning and bring some wild fruits back to her mother at night. After gradually not eating whole grains, Wu Zetian sent envoys to call her into the palace and suddenly disappeared on her way to Beijing. After that, the immortal was born during the day. In the ninth year of Tang Tianbao, he appeared in Magu altar, standing in five clouds, and then appeared in Xiaoshilou, Guangzhou.

Song Zengmin's Lonely Wake Magazine records: "When Di Qing fought for Nannong in his early years, he passed through Yongzhou. He heard that He Xiangu could predict good and bad luck, so he specifically asked about the outcome of the war. He Xiangu said, "You don't have to see the thief. The thief will leave after defeat." At first, Di Qing didn't believe it. Later, Song Jun Pioneer fought against the soldiers of Nannong Gaozhi, and Gaozhi was defeated and fled to Dali.

Eight Immortals-Blue Cai He

Lan Caihe,

Lan Caihe

One of the Eight Immortals of Taoism. Tang Kaiyuan was born in Tianbao. Summer clothes, winter ice and snow, Chang 'an songs are often sung, and the lyrics are more immortal. Someone saw him when he was a child, and when he was old, he saw him with the same face, and then rode away drunk in a restaurant. With this anecdote, Yuan people wrote a play "Han Zhong", which took off the blue Cai He.

In the wonder of the immortal Buddha: "Lan Cai He, I don't know where people are. Often in rags, with a six-inch belt, one foot in boots and one barefoot. Wear a long gown and thick underwear in summer and lie in the snow in winter, exhaling like steam. Every time I beg in the street, I hold a big racket, which is more than three feet long. Sing when you are drunk. Everyone, old and young, watched him sing. He looks crazy when he sings, but he is not. The lyrics are written casually, and the songs are full of fairy tales and unpredictable. Drag the money you get on the rope and forget it. Sometimes it is given to poor families, and sometimes it is spent in restaurants. Traveling around the world, some people saw him when he was a child, and some people saw him when he was old. Lan Caihe looks the same. Later, someone saw him drinking in Haoliang's restaurant, heard Xiao Sheng's voice, and suddenly flew into the sky by crane, leaving boots, clothes, belts and plates behind, and slowly rose.

The Yuan zaju "Zhong Liquan Dulan Cai He" said that Lan Caihe was a stage name and his real name was Xu Jian. He sang zaju in Goulan. At the age of 50, he was detained by the government because he didn't know what he had done wrong, and was later turned into a fairy by Zhong Liquan.

Eight Immortals-Lv Dongbin

In the folk,

Lv Dongbin

Lv Dongbin is as well known to women and children as Guanyin Bodhisattva and Guan Gong. They are collectively called "Three Gods". Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, He, Han Zhongli, Lan Caihe, Zhang, He Xiangu, Han Xiangzi and Cao Guojiu have been called "Eight Cave Immortals" together. Among the folk beliefs in Shanxi, he is the most famous of the Eight Immortals and has the most folklore.

Lv Dongbin, formerly known as Lv Yan, was born in Yongle Town (now Yongji County, Shaanxi Province). He was born in a bureaucratic family for generations, and his ancestors were officials in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Lv Dongbin has been familiar with classical literature since childhood. Some people say that he was a scholar in the first year of Tang Bao calendar (AD 825) and worked as a local official.

Later, because he was tired of the troubled times of the mutiny, he abandoned the fame and fortune in the world and took his wife to practice in Jiufeng Mountain on Zhongtiao Mountain. He and his wife each lived in a pit, so they changed their names to Lv Dongbin. "Lu" refers to a couple, and the two are Lu; "Cave" is a cave where people live; "Bin" means to tell people that they are guests in the cave. His road number is Chun Yoko. Before he abandoned his post and left, he extended his kind hand to the poor and did many good things for the people. According to folklore, during his practice, he met the immortal Zhong Liquan and worshipped him as a teacher. After the success of cultivating immortals, he went down the mountain to treat the people and never asked for any reward. Lv Dongbin was a philanthropist all his life, helping the poor and winning people's admiration. After his death, people in his hometown built the "Lv Gong Temple" as a memorial for him. In the Jin Dynasty, because Lv Dongbin believed in Taoism, he changed the name "temple" to "view". In the early years of the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan knew that Taoism believed by Lv Dongbin was very popular among the masses, so he wanted to use religion and Lv Dongbin's reputation to consolidate his rule, sent the Buddhist Qiu Chuji to take charge of Taoism, demolished the "Lu Public Relations", and built the "Yongle Palace". It took 1 10 years from the construction of Daxiong Hall to the drawing of murals in several halls, almost the same as the whole Yuan Dynasty.

Lv Dongbin was originally a little-known ordinary figure, but in the long-term folk circulation, like snowballing, the story became more and more rich and became a legend of arrows. Lv Dongbin's folklore has three remarkable features. One is the blending of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Lv Dongbin became an immortal through alchemy, which is the idea of the birth of Taoism. After he became an immortal, he wanted to "help the world at the same time", which reflected the Confucian thought of "helping the world at the same time" The behavior of being born and willing to give is the embodiment of Buddhist thought. From the legend of Lv Dongbin, we can see the imprint of the cultural integration of the three religions in Shanxi folk beliefs. Second, the content of secularization is increasing. For example, Lv Dongbin often appears in restaurants, teahouses and restaurants. Eat and drink, and leave an immortal mark after leaving. His bohemian, informal, good wine and loving his daughter, the so-called "Lv Dongbin with rich wine and color" and the so-called "Lv Dongbin playing peony" (Bai Mudan was a famous prostitute at that time) are all well known. These secular life contents make Lv Dongbin, a fairy, more human and win people's love. The third is to combine with the legend of literati. Lv Dongbin's experience of Confucian scholars before becoming a monk, as well as his drinking, writing poems and pursuing the interest of mountains and forests, are more suitable for the tastes of middle and lower literati. In the process of spreading the story, there are many legendary factors attached to it, which makes him a fairy representative of the image of frustrated intellectuals at the same time. These characteristics of Lv Dongbin legends are gradually formed in the long-term spreading process, and they are the accumulation of various cultural phenomena.

Lv Dongbin's poems can be divided into three categories according to their contents, namely, recitation, solution, persuasion and practice. Poetry is mainly for people who are good at doing things, hiding their names and making people guess, so as to deceive the world and confuse the people. There are a lot of people who can't pass the exam, or write poems according to legends, or change other people's poems according to spiritual traces. So the first two kinds of fakes are really rare. Persuasive poems are mostly found in the first volume of Hunchengji. It is a major feature of the Taoist theory of repairing truth in the Northern Song Dynasty to refine alchemy and repair poetry inside and outside. It is inevitable that Lv Dongbin advocates this theory, so the latter two categories can be said to be more true than false. However, most of the poems and songs included in Lv Zuzhi and Hunchengji appeared before the Southern Song Dynasty, and their influence existed, which can be used as the main reference materials for studying Changhe Taoism in the Song Dynasty.

Eight Immortals-Han Xiangzi

han xiang zi

Han Xiangzi, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism. Han Yu's nephew in Tang Dynasty. He has a bohemian nature, so he has to drink. He was handed down from generation to generation as an immortal figure. When he went to visit relatives in Charlotte at the age of 20, he praised the mountains and rivers there and never came back. He hasn't heard from me for over 20 years. During the Tang Yuanhe period, he suddenly returned to Chang 'an, dressed in rags and acting strangely. Han Yu asked him to go to school to study with the students, but Han Xiangzi didn't say a word when discussing with the students. He only gambles with servants, sleeps in the stable for three or five days when he is drunk, or sleeps on the street. Han Yu was very worried and asked him, "Everyone has his own strengths, even vendors have their own skills. What can I do in the future? " Han Xiangzi said, "I also have a skill. You just don't know. " Han Yu asked, "What can you do?" At that time, it was early winter, which made peony bloom in several colors. It tasted like a pot covered with soil and blossomed in an instant. After Han Xiangzi, this legend was learned from Lv Dongbin. Ranked in the fairy class.

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. The book says that Han Yu has a nephew who lives in a house. He is young, frivolous and uninhibited, and doesn't like reading. Han Yu once scolded him, but he was able to change the color of peony flowers according to his uncle's request within seven days, and there was a poem on each flower, "Where is the home of the cloud beyond the Qinling Mountains?" 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, which is immortal in the Five Dynasties.

Eight immortals-Cao Guojiu

Cao Guojiu appeared at the latest among the Eight Immortals.

Cao Guojiu

He was accepted as a disciple of Lv Dongbin by Neidan Dao in Song Dynasty, but his story didn't appear in relevant records until Yuan and Ming Dynasties. On Cao Guojiu, Ye Ci, Pu Jiangqing, Zhao, Zhou, Bai, Li and others have made sketches successively. Ban Youshu combed Cao Guojiu's case-solving story from a unique perspective when he inspected the origin of Huangmei Opera "Flower Selling".

According to legend, Cao Guojiu was the prince's maternal uncle of the dynasty, named Shu, and once served as the king's abdication. Cao Guojiu's younger brother went to Beijing to test the beauty of the scholar's wife, hanged the scholar and stole his wife. The ghost of the scholar appealed to Bao Zheng, and Bao Gong allowed them to investigate. Cao Guojiu told his younger brother that he must kill the scholar's wife to avoid future trouble. So my second uncle threw the scholar's wife into the well and she escaped. On the way, I met Cao Guojiu and mistook him for Bao Zheng. She appealed to Cao Guojiu, and Cao Guojiu was frightened. His men killed the scholar's wife with iron bars. His men thought she was dead and left her in a remote alley.

After the scholar's wife woke up, she complained to Bao Gong. After Bao Gong asked the truth, she cheated, and Cao Guojiu came to Bao Zheng. Bao Zheng ordered the scholar's wife to sue and put Cao Guojiu in prison one by one. Another fake letter sent my second uncle to Kaifeng to let this woman complain. Send my second uncle to prison. Queen Cao and herself came to persuade Bao Zheng to release her two younger brothers, but Bao Zheng refused and ordered her second uncle to be executed. Song Renzong forgives the world. Bao Gong released Cao Guojiu. After Cao Guojiu was released, he went into the mountains to practice and disappeared from the mountains. He is determined to practice Taoism and learn to live forever. One day, Zhong Liquan and Lv Dongbin asked him, "What do you keep?" Cao Guojiu said, "I raise Tao." The immortal smiled and asked, "Where is the Tao?" Cao Guojiu pointed to heaven and said, "The Tao is in heaven." The fairy asked again, "Where is the sky?" Cao Guojiu pointed to the heart. Zhong Liquan and Lv Dongbin said with satisfaction: "The heart is the sky, and the sky is the Tao. You have learned the true meaning of Tao. " One by one, he was given the true secrets and asked to practice seriously. Soon, Cao Guojiu became an immortal.

The prototype of Cao Guojiu is Cao Shu, the uncle of the Song Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty, he was recruited by Neidan Dao and became a disciple of Lv Dongbin. During the Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasties, he appeared in the Eight Immortals as a fixed image. In history, Cao Shu was the grandson of Cao Bin, not the son of Cao Bin as suggested by Neidandao, but an imperial concubine who was "widowed and unable to protect herself". The Biography of Cao Bin in the History of Song Dynasty points out: "Cao Shu, a famous male uncle, is the grandson of Han, and the younger brother of Empress Guangxian. Sexual harmony is free and easy, beautiful and melodious, good at shooting, and music is poetry. " "The jade belt presented by Korea is autumn reed and white dew, and the pattern is extremely beautiful. After the imperial edict, the gardener imitated it and gave it with gold as a belt. " "Kun dedicated his life to the Prime Minister's class," and pointed out that he was a "widowed and self-protective" person. Song Gaozu Cao Zhuan records that in two years (1033), her sister was made queen. After Song Yingzong acceded to the throne, Cao Shu was made an official of China Academy of Sciences. When she was old, she went to the palace to take care of the queen mother's illness. He died at the age of seventy-two.

According to these resumes,

Cao Guojiu

Scholars since the Ming and Qing Dynasties have pointed out that Cao Guojiu's immortality seems illusory. "Tang Yuzhi Tan Hui" Volume 17 says: "Cao Guojiu was the only one, and all the immortals passed on Cao's surname without consorts, while all the consorts of Cao's surname had no immortals in history." Hu Yinglin's Shao's Mountain House Pen Collection (Volume 24) says: "According to Biography of Immortals, there was no Cao Shi, but there was no Cao Shi and no immortals in history. Song Shiwei's younger brother Cao Shu, who is more important than time, died at the age of 70. " Zhao Yi also pointed out in Volume 34 of Examination of Jade Cong: "Cao Guojiu is said to be the brother of the Empress Dowager Cao. According to Song History, Cao Shu, the younger brother of Empress Dowager Cixi, died at the age of 72 and never became an immortal. In addition, those who have no national spirit to learn immortals are also rumored. " Tao Shan Qing Hua records that Yan Shu was born to the fairy Cao Babai. The so-called Cao 800 is a man? However, this is not in the national interest. In view of this, Pujiang Qing even made the following guess: "The painter specially decorated this beauty and beauty at the birthday celebration of the Eight Immortals? Therefore, Lv Dongbin's disciples said

Cao Guojiu joined the Eight Immortals because of the merger of Neidan Road. Cao Guojiu, Chen Zhenjun (that is, Lan Caihe), Han Xiangzi and He Xiangu are listed as Lv Dongbin's disciples in The Fairy Tales of the Western Mountain Society. Cao Guojiu, Tie Guai Li and others are also listed as disciples of Lv Dongbin in the Taoist classic "Yuxi Zidan Classic Guide and Mixed Yuan Fairy School Map". Bai Yuchan's Four Immortals Fu refers to Cao Guojiu, Chen Zizi, He Xiangu and Han Xiangzi, which can be cross-referenced with the true story of Gathering Immortals in Xishan. Bai Yuchan's Jiu Fu of Cao Guo was later included in Poems on Paintings of Emperors in Past Dynasties, which proved that all four poems in Four Immortals Fu were poems on paintings. This kind of portrait was still very popular until the Ming Dynasty, and Cao Guojiu's praise was included in Wang Zhi's Collection of Anning Temple. Bai Yuchan recited Cao Guojiu's poem and said, "I stole the jade peach and trampled on the Beijing grass. The snow is full of hemp fiber and there is Jin Danbao in it. " Wang Zhi praised: "I am addicted to metaphysics, and I am not interested in sound and interests. Herbs are collected in the corner of the sea, and alchemy is made in the cloud. Dragon hides tiger, marrow is green. Antarctic Donghua allows longevity. " Both poems praise the religious thought of Neidan Taoism. Under the propaganda of Neidan Road, relevant documents also agree that Cao Guojiu is a disciple of Lv Dongbin. For example, Ren Meng in the Qing Dynasty pointed out in his book A Brief Introduction to Reading: "Cao Guojiu, the brother of Prime Minister Bin Zi, was enlightened by pure sunshine." Relevant literature even quoted the remains of Cao Guojiu's cultivation of immortals. For example, the New Records quoted Xuzhou Fuzhi as saying: "In Song Dynasty, Cao Guo was nine years old and was born four years less (1097), and the cicada abandoned Yuque Temple in the southeast of the county and changed its name to Yun Teng Temple." This content is also recorded in the article "Fairy Interpretation" quoted from "Jiangnan Tongzhi Xuzhou". The article "Mountain Hall Examination" Volume 18 "Fog Pig Mountain" is more specific: "Fog Pig Mountain, under the southeast of Xiaoxian County, Xuzhou, has a fog pig spring, hence the name. Song Cao Guojiu hid this mountain because the cicada bone is here. " But somehow, another immortal saying was put forward in the volume 150 of Shantangkao: "Dong Bin spent his time in He Xiangu and spent his time in Cao Guojiu."