Correct ranking order of the Eight Immortals

The correct ranking order is Han Zhongli, Zhang, Cao Guojiu, He Xiangu, Lan Caihe and Han Xiangzi.

The Eight Immortals are the Taoist Eight Immortals widely circulated in China folklore. Before the Ming Dynasty, there were different opinions, including the Eight Immortals in the Han Dynasty, the Eight Immortals in the Tang Dynasty and the Eight Immortals in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. The listed immortals are different.

It was not until the Ming Dynasty that Wu Yuantai's Journey to the East was defined as (Li Xuan), Han Zhongli (Zhong Liquan), Zhang (Zhang Guo), Lv Dongbin (Lv Yan), He Xiangu (He Qiong), Lan Caihe (Xu Jian), Han Xiangzi and Cao Guojiu (Cao Jingxiu).

Zhang Guo, a Taoist priest in the early Tang Dynasty, was first seen in history books and was a real person. Most of the deeds of the Eight Immortals are scattered in books of the Tang and Song Dynasties, but the Eight Immortals have not yet formed a group. Eight people are really called "Eight Immortals", which is in Yuan Zaju. Although these plays are all eight immortals crossing the sea, their names and family backgrounds are different.

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, the Baiyun Fairy was long enough to invite the Eight Immortals and the Five Immortals to attend the ceremony. On their return trip, Tie Guai Li (or Lv Dongbin) advised them to find their own way instead of taking a boat, which is the origin of "Eight Immortals crossing the sea to show their magical powers".

According to folklore, Han Zhongli dropped his crutch (or gourd), threw a banana fan, and Zhang put down his mount "paper donkey". Other immortals also threw their crutches 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.

Reference to the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Eight Immortals