Important Figures
Laozi
Born during the 5th century BC in the Zhou Dynasty, Laozi was one of the most legendary philosophers in China. He was the founder of Taoism and he was motivated because wanted to stop the warfare that was taking place China. He believed that people should stop living in a world of struggle and that everyone should follow the Tao, or the “path”. The Tao Te Ching, or The Way of Life is one of Laozi’s famous works which created a lot of controversies since the book is a collection of proverbs written by different people anonymously throughout time, not only Laozi himself. Not much is known about his life and some historians to this day are still not certain if Laozi even existed at all.
Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi was an influential taoist philosopher in China during the fourth century BC. He is well known for being the author of the Zhuangzi, which is a collection of holy texts consisting of 33 chapters, divided into three parts; the “Inner chapters” composed of seven chapters, the “Outer chapters” made of 15 chapters, and lastly the “Mixed chapters” with the remaining 11 chapters. According to Guo Xiang, a scholar of the Xuanxue, the inner chapters were all written by Zhuangzi himself with ideas expressed from the Tao Te Ching, the outer chapters are written by his disciples, and the mixed chapters are written by others. Zhuangzi’s philosophy was very skeptical, because it stated that life if limited and the acquiring of knowledge is unlimited. He believed that using the limited to pursue the unlimited was simply foolish.
Eight Immortals
The Eight Immortals are a group of legendary xians, or saints of Chinese mythology. Each immortal have different powers which then can be transferred into a power tool either to bestow life or destroy the negatives. The eight tools as a whole is called the Covert Eight Immortals. The eight immortals are very much respected by taoists and are also a popular element in Chinese culture. It is told that they live on a group of five islands in the Bohai sea.
- Zhongli Quan - While some people considered Lu Dongbin as their informal leader, Zhongli Quan was the first official leader of the eight immortals. His most important emblem, a fan, has the magical ability of reviving the dead and can also turn stones into silver or gold. He is described to have a big round belly, with only a few hair along with a beard that reaches all the way to his waist.
- Lü Dongbin - Frequently portrayed as the leader, Lu Dongbin is the patron of jugglers, magicians, barbers and neidan. His emblem is his two edged sword which banish evil spirits and allows power of invisibility. Lü Dongbin can be seen carrying a fly-whisk, dressed and honored as a scholar.
- He Xian Gu (Immortal Woman He) - He Xian Gu is the only female figure part of the Eight Immortals. He Xian is believed to be from Yong Prefecture during the Tang Dynasty during the seventh century. She is known for carrying around a bamboo ladle filled with objects associated with immortality: peaches and sprigs. Other times she carries a lotus flower, fly-whisk or baskets filled with fruits and herbs, which has the power to cure one’s physical and mental health.
- Cao Guo Jiu (Royal Uncle Cao) - Cao Guo Jiu is the youngest of the eight immortals and known to be the brother of empress Dowager Cao. He is portrayed by wearing a court dress and holding castanets or jade tablet which shows high status, access to palace audiences and having the power to purify the government. He was the patron for actors and said to have a fierce demeanor, making him one of the least popular immortal.
- Tieguai Li (Iron-Crutch Li) - Tieguai Li or Iron-Crutch Li is said to be one of the most popular out of the eight immortals despite his ill-tempered or irritable attitude. He is well known to be the patron of the injured and diseased who carries a gourd containing magic and healing potions. For 40 immortals years, Tieguai studied with Laozi, often going for long periods without food or sleep in order to devote himself to meditation practice.
- Lan Caihe - The least defined immortal, Lan Caihe raises a lot of questions. It is not certain if Lan Caihe is in fact a female or male since he is sometimes portrayed as an old man, young girl or even a young boy. Considered as the “holy fool” Lan Caihe is known for wearing long pants and thick jackets during the summer and shorts and a thin shirt during the winter. S/he is the patron saint of florists usually carrying around a flower basket filled with herbs and flowers associated with magic fungus and sprigs.
- Han Xiang Zi - Born during the Tang Dynasty, Han Xiang Zi was one of Lu Dongbin’s students. It is also said that Han Xiang Zi is the nephew or grandnephew of Han Yu a statement of Tang court. His emblem is a flute, and he is known as the patron of musicians. Han Xiang Zi became a immortal after falling off a peach tree and his mortal body died, but he, in that moment, attained the status of a hsien (immortal).
- Zhang Guo Lao - Historians believe that Zhang Guo Lao existed during the middle or end of the seventh century, Zhang Guo Lao was a historical figure from the Tang dynasty. He mastered in the arts of alchemy and qigong and was known for his herbal infusion which had potent healing effects.