Rings of Honor

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Junior Adventurer

Username:

Eight Immortals

Groups:

Registered users

Character:

Eight Names

Character Race:

Immortal

Gender:

Six Men, One Woman, One Ambiguous

Location:

Near wine.

Character Portrait:

Profession:

Gods

Appearance:

1. Immortal Woman He:

Hé was the daughter of Ho T‘ai, of the town of Tsêng-ch‘êng, in the prefecture of Guangdong. At birth she had six long hairs on the crown of her head. When she was about 14 or 15, a divine personage appeared to her in a dream and instructed her to eat powdered mica, in order that her body might become etherealized and immune from death. So she swallowed it, and also vowed to remain a virgin. Later on by slow degrees she gave up taking ordinary food. The Empress Wu dispatched a messenger to summon her to attend at the palace, but on the way there, she disappeared. One day during the Long period (about 707 CE), she ascended to Heaven in broad daylight, and became a Hsien (Taoist Immortal).

2. Royal Uncle Cao:

The newest of the Eight Immortals, Royal Uncle Cao or Cao Guojiu is named one of the following:

Cao Yi (courtesy name Gongbo)
Cao Jing
Cao Jingxiu
Cao You

He was said to be the uncle of the Emperor of the Song Empire, being the younger brother of Empress Dowager Cao. In historic records, there were several Emperor-consorts Caos in the Song Empire, but only one became empress: Cishengguangxian Empress (1015 - 1079), the wife of the fourth Song emperor, none of whose children became an emperor. However, this therefore does not render the historical existence of the "Royal Uncle Cao" impossible as in pre-modern China, the address "uncle" also meant "brother-in-law". Sometimes specified as "Wife-uncle" or as a respect, "Little Uncle". Empress did have a younger brother named Cao Yi in historical record. But the given name of Royal Uncle Cao being Yi as well could be a post hoc. Cao Guojiu's younger brother Cao Jingzhi cáo was a bully, but no one dared to prosecute him because of his powerful connections, not even after he killed a person. Royal Uncle Cao was so overwhelmed by sadness and shame on his brother that he resigned his office and left home.He is shown in the official's court dress with a jade tablet. Sometimes he holds castanets. His jade tablet can purify the environment. Royal Uncle Cao is considered the patron deity of actors.

3. Iron-Crutch Li:

Iron-Crutch Li is sometimes said to be the most ancient and popular of the Eight Immortals of the Taoist pantheon. He is sometimes described as irascible and ill-tempered, but also benevolent to the poor, sick and the needy, whose suffering he alleviates with special medicine from his gourd. He is often portrayed as an ugly old man with dirty face, scraggy beard, and messy hair held by a golden band. He walks with the aid of an iron crutch (t'ieh kuai) and often has a gourd slung over his shoulder or held in his hand. He often is depicted as a clown figure who descends to earth in the form of a beggar who uses his power to fight for the oppressed and needy. , Iron-crutch Li is associated with medicine. His symbol of an iron crutch still hangs outside some traditional apothecaries. One of the reasons for him not being extremely popular is due to his "renowned bad temper and eccentricities." Sometimes, the non devout seek out prescriptions from him through certain Taoist priests. His magical, medical gourd is his more popular sign which is favoured by professional exorcists. As a beggar, he uses his form to "fight for the rights of the poor and those in need." "He is very much a clown figure and his popularity rests upon the twin attractions of being seen as one of the downtrodden, who is really more powerful than the strongest, and the clown who is irascible."

4. Lan Caihe:

Lan Caihe is the least defined of the Eight Immortals. Lan Caihe's age and sex are unknown. Lan is usually depicted in sexually ambiguous clothing, but is often shown as a young boy or girl carrying a bamboo flower basket. Stories of Lan's behaviour are often bizarrely eccentric. Some sources dress Lan Caihe in a ragged blue gown, and refer to them as the patron immortal of minstrels. In another tradition, Lan is a female singer whose song lyrics accurately predict future events. Lan is often described as carrying a pair of bamboo castanets which they would clap and make a beat with by hitting the ground, they would then sing to this beat and a group of onlookers would follow and watch in amazement and entertain themselves. After these performances they would give them lots of money as they asked for it, Lan Cai They would then string this cash and coins on a long string of money that they carried carried. As they walked the coins would fall off and Lan Cai They would not care, other beggars would then take the money. He is often described as wearing only one shoe and other foot being bare, in the Winter it was said he slept naked in the snow and it melted and in the summer it was said he stuffed his clothes full and wore thick clothes despite the heat. Like all the other immortals they were often said to be in a drunken stupor and left this world by flying on a heavenly swan or crane into heaven. One day while in a tavern, they had supposedly gotten up to go to the bathroom. But before leaving they flew off on the crane or swan and stripped off their clothes on the way up.

5. Lu Dongbin:

Lu Dongbin is a historical figure and also a deity/Immortal revered by many in the Chinese culture sphere, especially by Daoists/Taoists. One of the most widely known of the group of deities known as the Eight Immortals and considered by some to be the de facto leader. (The formal leader is more likely said to be Zhongli Quan or sometimes Iron-Crutch Li.) He is also a historical figure who was mentioned in the official history book "History of Song". He is widely considered to be one of the earliest masters of the tradition of Neidan, or Internal alchemy. He is depicted in art as being dressed as a scholar and he often bears a sword on his back that dispels evil spirits. Lü Dongbin is usually portrayed as a scholarly, clever man with a genuine desire to help people obtain wisdom/enlightenment and to learn the Tao. However, he is often portrayed as having some character "flaws", not an uncommon theme for the colorful Taoist immortals, all of whom in general have various eccentricities. He is said to be a ladies man, even after (or only after) becoming an immortal - and for this reason he is generally not invoked by people with romantic problems. This may also relate to some of the Taoist sexual arts. He is portrayed as having bouts of drunkenness, which was not uncommon among the often fun-loving Eight Immortals. This also parallels several Taoist artists renowned for their love of drinking. One story relates that early on after becoming immortal, he had a strong temper as a "young" Immortal, even deforming a riverbank in a bout of anger. Lü was also a very productive poet. His works were collected in the "Quan Tang Shi" (Complete Tang Dynasty Poetry).

6. Philosopher Han Xiang:

One of the Eight Immortals, Philosopher Han Xiang or Han Xiang Zi was born Han Xiang during the Tang Dynasty, and his courtesy name is Qingfu. He is said to be the nephew or grandnephew of Han Yu, a prominent statesman of Tang Court. Han Xiang studied Daoism under Lü Dongbin. Once at a banquet by Han Yu, Han Xiang tried to persuade Han Yu to give up a life of officialdom and to study magic with him. But Han Yu was adamant that Han Xiang should dedicate his life to Confucianism instead of Daoism, so Han Xiang demonstrated the power of the Dao by pouring out cup after cup of wine from the gourd without end. Because his flute gives life, Han became a protector of flautists.

7. Elder Zhang Guo:

Elder Zhang Guo was a Taoist fangshi ("occultist-alchemist") who lived as a hermit in the Zhongtiao Shan in the Heng Prefecture during the Tang Dynasty. By the time of Empress Wu, he claimed to be several hundred years old. A strong believer in the magic of necromancy, he also declared that he had been Grand Minister to the Emperor Yao during a previous incarnation. Zhang Guo Lao also had a love for wine and winemaking. He was known to make liquor from herbs and shrubs as a hobby. Other members of the Eight Immortals drank his wine, which they believed to have healing or medicinal properties. He was also known to be a master of Taoist Breath or Qigong and could go without food for days, surviving on only a few sips of wine. He was the most eccentric of the eight immortals, as one can see from the kung fu style that was dedicated to him. The style includes moves such as delivering a kick during a back flip or bending so far back that your shoulders touch the ground. He was known to be quite entertaining, often making himself invisible, drinking off of poisonous flowers, plucking birds from the sky, as well as wilting flowers simply by pointing in their direction, while in the presence of Emperors. He may be depicted standing or seated, but is typically shown riding his white mule, usually seated facing backwards. His emblem is a Yü Ku, or fish drum, which is a tube-shaped bamboo drum with two iron rods or mallets that he carries with him, or carrying a phoenix feather or a peach, representing immortality

8. Zhongli Quan:

Zhongli Quan is one of the most ancient of the Eight Immortals (some others say the oldest is Iron-crutch Li or Elder Zhang Guo, or Lü Dongbin) and the leader of the group. (Some people consider Lü Dongbin to be an informal leader.) He is also known as Zhongli of Han because he was said to be born during the Han Dynasty. He possesses a fan which has the magical ability of reviving the dead. Born in Yantai, Zhongli Quan was once a general serving in the army of the Han Dynasty. According to legends, bright beams of light filled the labour room during his birth. After birth he did not stop crying until seven full days had passed. Later Taoists celebrate his birthday on the fifteenth day of the fourth month of the Chinese Calendar. In Taoism, he is known literally as the True-Yang Ancestor-Master. He is also called "Master of the Cloud-Chamber" in accounts describing his encounter with Lü Dongbin before achieving immortality. He has a rare Chinese compound surname, Zhongli. He is one of three leaders of the group of the eight immortals. Usually depicted with his chest and belly bare and holding a fan.

Skills:

The eight drunken fighting styles (more to come).

The Eight Immortals are examples of how all can obtain immortality. Most of the immortals (including Iron-crutch Li) were common folk who attracted the attention of the gods through suffering unjust treatment, without complaint, and gave more to others than themselves. They were admitted to eternal life as a reward for their acts on earth and bearing gifts to Shoulao, who is the god of long life. "The path to immortality includes achieving physical and spiritual harmony through meditation, diet, exercise, breath control, and the use of herbs. To achieve this state, one also had to eliminate all disease and evil from the body and spirit.

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