Han Zhongli, Tieguai Li, Han Xiangzi, He Xiangu, Lu Dongbin, Cao Guojiu, Lan Caihe, Zhang Guolao. Overview: The eight Taoist gods widely circulated among the people. Before the Ming Dynasty, there were different opinions on the name of the Eight Immortals. There are the Eight Immortals of the Han Dynasty, the Eight Immortals of the Tang Dynasty, and the Eight Immortals of the Song and Yuan Dynasties. The immortals listed are all different. By the Ming Dynasty, Wu Yuantai's "Eight Immortals' Journey to the East" (i.e. "Journey to the East") was originally designated as: Tieguai Li (Li Xuan/Li Hongliu), Han Zhongli (Zhong Liquan), Zhang Guolao, Lan Caihe, He Xiangu (He Xiaoyun) ), Lu Dongbin (Lv Yan), Han Xiangzi, and Cao Guojiu (Cao Jingxiu). Legend has it that the Eight Immortals represent men, women, old, young, rich, noble, poor, and humble. They are commonly known as the sandalwood board, fan, crutch, and flute held by the Eight Immortals. The Eight Immortals, sword, gourd, fly whisk, and flower basket are the "eight treasures", which represent the Eight Immortals. Among the literary and artistic works, the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea and the Eight Immortals Offering Longevity are the most famous ones. Among them, he is the first of the Eight Immortals. Some books say that his surname is Li and his given name is Flood. He was from Xiaxia in the Sui Dynasty. Mr. Lu Xun's "A Brief History of Chinese Novels" says that his surname is Li and his given name is Xuan; It is said that his surname is Liu. It is said that he was born between Kaiyuan and Daizong of the Tang Dynasty. He studied Taoism in Zhongnan Mountain. Once his soul came out of his shell, he never thought of being eaten by a tiger, so he had to devote himself to being a lame beggar. According to the "Tongjian of Immortals", he was originally a handsome husband who was good at Taoism and could derive the magic of the soul. He practiced it in a cave in Dangshan Mountain. Once, as promised by his master, Laozi, he performed the magic of "coming out of the shell of the soul" and traveled thousands of miles away. Waihua Mountain, when he returned a few days later, he found that his body had been accidentally burned by his disciples. Suddenly he saw a starving corpse nearby, and he had an idea and said, "That's it." That is, it entered through the forehead of the hungry corpse, and after returning to its shell, the soul turned into a unkempt tendril, black The ugly man with giant eyes and a lame right leg seems to be a Taoist immortal who was passed down from word of mouth among the people. According to legend, he is also called Tieguai Li. According to legend, his surname is Li and his given name is Xuan. His names were Li Ningyang, Li Hongming, and Li Kongmu. It is said that he was originally very tall and handsome. He was practicing in Dangshan Cave because he had agreed to attend Laojun's Huashan Immortal Meeting. Before leaving, he told his disciples that if the soul did not return in seven days, Then the body was burned, and the soul left the body. Unexpectedly, on the sixth day, someone came from the disciple's home to report that his mother was critically ill, so the disciples had no choice but to burn the body. When the god returned, he had nowhere to turn. Suddenly he saw a corpse of a starved man in the forest, entering through his forehead. After he stood up, he realized that he couldn't do it, and hurriedly poured out the elixir given by Lao Jun from the gourd. The gourd suddenly The golden light flashed out, reflecting an ugly image, with a black face and disheveled hair, giant eyes with tendrils, and his right foot was still lame. He was surprised when someone suddenly applauded behind him. When he looked back, he saw that it was Lao Jun. In desperation, he wanted to Yuan Yuan. The god jumped out. At this moment, Laojun stopped him and said: "The way you look does not depend on your appearance. As long as you are full of effort, you will be a true immortal." So he was given a golden hoop to control his tangled hair and an iron hoop. Li Tieguai often carried a gourd, which was said to be used to cure diseases and save people when he came to the world. Among the eight immortals of the Han Dynasty, Zhongliquan was second only to Tieguai Li. Among the Eight Immortals, he has a higher status, especially due to the praise of Taoists. In the Yuan Dynasty, Jin Zhendao was regarded as the "Zhengyang Patriarch". The prototype of his character appeared in the Xuanhe Chronicle of the Five Dynasties and the early Song Dynasty. "," "Yi Jian Zhi", "Song History" and other books all have records of his deeds. It was only later that he was mistakenly identified as Zhongli of the Han Dynasty, and he was attributed to the Han Dynasty. Books such as "Tongjian of the Immortals of the Past Dynasties" and "Tongkao of Xuwenwen" claim that Zhongli Quan, whose surname is Zhongli, also has the courtesy name Jidao, the name Yunfangfang, and the name Zhengyangzi. A native of Xianyang in the Eastern Han Dynasty, his father Zhongli Zhang was a general of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and his brother Zhongli Jian was a general of Zhonglang, who later became an immortal. There was indeed a person named Zhong Liquan in the Tang Dynasty. Three of his quatrains were recorded in "The Complete Poems of the Tang Dynasty", with a short biography: "A man from Xianyang met an old man who taught him the secrets of immortality, and he met a real person from Huayang and the immortal king Xuanfu. He preached to Kongtong Mountain and named himself Mr. Yunfang, and later passed away as an immortal." The poem he left behind is entitled "Three Quatrains on Avoiding a Wine Shop in Chang'an", which includes "Always carry a pot of wine while sitting and lying, and don't teach your eyes to recognize the imperial capital. "It is not easy to meet a true immortal who has attained the Tao. I am willing to follow you when I return" and other sentences, which also have some "immortal flavor". He must be a person who is good at Taoism. Legend has it that his surname is Zhongli, his given name is Quan, his courtesy name is Yunfang, and his nickname is Zhengyangzi. A native of Xianyang, Jingzhao (now Shaanxi), it is said that he was born in the Eastern Han Dynasty. The story about 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 the ancient Huang Shen clan, and I will take care of my child here." Suddenly, there was a strange light that stretched for several feet. After the fierce fire, Zhongli of Han Dynasty was born. When he was born, he was as big as a 3-year-old child. He was born with a blessed appearance, with a round top and wide forehead, thick ears and long eyebrows, a square mouth and big cheeks, lips like pills, round breasts and long arms. What is even more strange is that he does not sleep day and night. No sound, no crying, no eating. On the seventh day, he suddenly said: "I am traveling in the Purple Mansion, and I am famous in Yujing." This sentence alarmed his parents. Because Zifu and Yujing are the palaces of the Jade Emperor, they thought he was the reincarnation of a god. His parents wanted him to grow up to have more power, so they named him "Quan". It is said that when Zhongli grew up, he served as an admonishment official in the imperial court. Later, he was called to fight against Tibet, but was defeated and lived in seclusion in Zhongnan Mountain. After meeting Xuanfu, the Emperor of Donghua, he obtained the secret of immortality, the golden elixir of fire, and the Qinglong sword technique. Later, he met Zhenren Huayang and taught him Taiyi Jiugui, Fire Talisman Golden Pill, and the way of Xuanxuan. Finally, he obtained the secret of the jade box at the Four Hao Peaks of the Forbidden City in Kongtong Mountain and became an immortal.

Legend has it that he converted Lu Dongbin during the Tang Dynasty and was one of the five northern Taoist ancestors. He is often shown with his breasts exposed, holding a palm fan, big eyes, red face, two buns on his head, and a calm demeanor. He is a laid-back man. Zhang Guolao Zhang Guolao is an elderly immortal among the Eight Immortals, named "Zhang Guolao". Because he is the oldest among the Eight Immortals, people respectfully call him "Zhang Guolao". There is actually a Zhang Guolao in history, both old and new. According to the "Book of Tang", during the time of Wu Zetian, he lived in seclusion in Zhongtiao Mountain. People at that time claimed that he had the secret of immortality. He claimed to be hundreds of years old. Wu Zetian sent an envoy to summon him, but Zhang Guolao pretended to be dead and refused to go. In the 21st year of Emperor Xuanzong's reign of the Tang Dynasty, Wei Ji, the governor of Hengzhou, reported his anecdotes to the emperor. Xuanzong summoned him, but Zhang Guo pretended to be dead again. He died for a long time before he regained consciousness, and the envoys did not dare to advance. Xuanzong heard about it and sent Xu Qiao to invite him again. Zhang Guo had no choice but to go to Beijing. It is said that Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty was suspicious of the rumors. He once asked Xing Hepu, who was good at predicting life, death, good and evil, to tell Zhang's fortune. Asked: "Where is Zhang Guo?" He was facing the other side and couldn't see him. Judging from historical records, Zhang Guo was just an old charlatan sorcerer with a guilty conscience. Why else would he have pretended to be dead several times to avoid being drafted? At best, he only knows some illusions. Therefore, the fairy tales about him are all exaggerated and fabricated by Taoists for propaganda purposes based on folk rumors. "Taiping Guangji" also records that Zhang Guolao claimed to be from the time of Emperor Yao. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty asked the sorcerer "Ye Fashan" about Zhang's origin. Ye Fashan said: "I dare not say it. If I say it, I will die." Later, he said: "Zhang Guo" It was a white bat spirit from the beginning of chaos." After saying this, he fell to the ground and died. After Xuanzong interceded, Zhang Guocai saved him. Legend has it that there was indeed such a person according to historical records. He turned out to be a Taoist priest from the Tang Dynasty. This person was good at magic and often lived in seclusion in Zhongtiao Mountain in Hengzhou, traveling between Fen and Jin. According to folklore, he lived hundreds of years, so people respected him as He is Zhang Guolao. It is said that after Tang Taizong and Tang Gaozong found out, they sent envoys to summon him to the palace, but he was unwilling to go. During the period of Wu Zetian, he had no choice but to be summoned out of the mountain, pretending to die halfway and trying not to succeed. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, Xuanzong sent an envoy to finally invite him to the palace, and named him "Doctor Yinqing Guanglu" and "Mr. Tongxuan". Later, when Xuanzong was about to betroth his daughter to him, he sang: "A daughter-in-law must be fair, and she will be born in a prince's palace on a plain land. People are happy with it, but I am afraid of it." In the end, he did not agree to the marriage, and he resigned and walked halfway. , died in Puwu County, Hengshan. His disciples said that he transformed into an immortal, and Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty ordered the construction of Qixia Temple in the local area for worship. According to folklore, he often carries a Taoist canister on his back, rides on a white donkey backwards, and travels around, preaching Taoist sentiments and persuading and saving people. Later, the folk saying "riding on a donkey to read the songbook" originated from this. The white donkey he rides on travels thousands of miles by day, and is folded like paper at night and placed in a box. When riding during the day, put water in your mouth and spray it, and you will be like a donkey again. Later generations wrote a poem: "There are so many people in the world who are not as good as this old man. It's not like riding a donkey backwards, but looking back on everything." Zhang Guolao's story inspires us to consider everything comprehensively, think forward and backward, and not just blindly look forward and backward in anything we do. Lu Dongbin Among the Eight Immortals, Lu Dongbin has the most popular stories. In Taoism, Quanzhen Taoism regards him as the "Chunyang Patriarch", also known as "Lu Zu". Most researchers have always believed that Lu Dongbin's surname was Lu Mingyan and he was from the late Tang Dynasty. His poems are included in "Jin Tang Poems" and "Ci Zong". It was recorded in books such as Luo Dajing's "Helin Yulu", Hong Mai's "Yijian Zhi" and "Ji Xian Zhuan" in the Song Dynasty. It is said that he was from Jingzhao (today's Shaanxi and Xi'an areas). He reached the middle of Xiantong in the Tang Dynasty and served as county magistrate for two terms. It is said that he was from Jiujiang, originally from the Tang clan, and his surname was Li. To avoid the disaster of Empress Wu, he changed his surname to Lu. His first name was Shao Guang. He failed in the examinations for more than 20 years, so he gave up his studies and traveled around the world. Later, he was enlightened by Zhong Liquan and became a Taoist. He is the most humane among the Eight Immortals. He is chic and funny. He brings peace to the people and kills monsters. He is also a drinker and a womanizer. There is a legend of "Lü Dongbin's Three Plays with White Peony" circulated in the world. There are many and mixed legends about him, but It can also be seen from this that he was originally a scholar who sought Taoism in the Tang Dynasty, and was later deified into an immortal by people. [1] He Xiangu He Xiangu is the only female among the Eight Immortals. There are different opinions about her life experience. One said she was from the Tang Dynasty. In the early Song Dynasty, "Taiping Guangji" cited "Guangyi Ji" as "He Erniang". She was a peasant woman who made shoes. Later, because she felt that her home was too boring, she traveled to Luofu Mountain and stayed in a mountain temple. He often collects mountain fruits to feed the monks in the temple. Once, a monk from Xunzhou Mountain Temple, four hundred miles away, came to Luofu Mountain Temple and said that a fairy went to that mountain to pick bayberry fruits on a certain day. It was found that that day happened to be the day when Er Niang was picking fruits. In addition, everyone did not know where Er Niang was from. Wherever they picked so many mountain fruits, they thought that Erniang was the fruit-picking fairy of Xunzhou Mountain Temple. From then on, Erniang became famous far and near, and she no longer lived in the mountain temple. "Xu Tong Kao" says that He Xiangu was a native of Zengcheng County, Guangdong during the reign of Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty. When she was born, six rays of light appeared on her head, and she was born with a "fairy family". When she was thirteen years old, she met a Taoist priest in the mountains and ate a Taoist peach. From then on, he will neither be hungry nor thirsty, his body will be as light as flying, and he will be able to foresee the blessings and misfortunes in life. Later, she was summoned to Beijing and left on the way. One said she was from the Song Dynasty. Some literati's notes from the Song Dynasty often call her a native of Yongzhou (Lingling) in the Northern Song Dynasty. Some say that she met a stranger when she was young and became an immortal by eating peaches. It is said that she was grazing in the countryside, met a stranger who gave her immortal dates, and became an immortal after eating them. Song Dynasty people's notes also recorded some of He Xiangu's divination and prediction of misfortune and fortune. At that time, scholar-officials and curious people rushed to go there first. Divination shows that she is just a folk witch who is good at divination.

Legend has it that the only female immortal among the Eight Immortals was originally named He Xiugu. She was born during the period of Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty. When she was born, purple clouds surrounded her room and there were six rays of light above her head. He has been quick and smart since he was a child. When she was 15 years old, she dreamed that a god taught her to eat mica powder, so she became as light as flying and traveled to and from the top of the mountain. She went out every morning and picked mountain fruits at night to honor her mother. Later, Bigu's speech was abnormal. After Wu Zetian heard about it, he sent an envoy to summon him, but he didn't know the direction on the way. Some people said that he flew to the sky on the eighth day of August during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty. There is another saying that He Xiangu went into the mountains when she was 13 years old and met the immortal Lu Dongbin. Lu gave her a peach. After eating it, she felt neither hungry nor hungry, and could predict good and bad things, which was quite efficacious. The people in the village regarded him as a god and built a building specifically for him to live in. Later, Lu Dongbin made him an immortal. Lan Caihe Among the Eight Immortals, there is a cynical, almost crazy, begging Taoist immortal named Lan Caihe. His deeds are recorded in books such as Shen Fen's "Xuxian Zhuan" in the Southern Tang Dynasty, "Taiping Guangji" in the early Song Dynasty, and Lu You's "Book of the Southern Tang Dynasty". He was from the late Tang Dynasty to the Five Dynasties. His behavior is eccentric, he likes to drink and sing, and he usually wears a ragged blue shirt, a boot on one foot, and a bare foot on the other. What's even more unnatural is that he wears cotton-padded clothes in summer, but lies in the snow in winter with heat all over his body ("The Legend of the Immortal Continues"). He usually holds a big clapper that is more than three feet long, and while beating the bamboo board, he sings and begs along the street. He sings many songs, most of which are inspired by the scene, which not only makes the world feel enigmatic, but also has a fairy-like meaning. One of the words goes: "How much can the world be like when singing and dancing in harmony? A beautiful spring tree, a passing shuttle, the ancients wandered away and never came back, but today's people are coming more and more. In the morning, you ride the phoenix to the blue waves, and in the evening you see the white waves in the mulberry fields. It's long. Jing Minghui is in the sky, and the gold and silver palace is high and lofty. "He behaves like crazy. Some people give him money, but he mostly gives it to the poor. Lan Caihe has no fixed place and lives all over the world. The prototype of this immortal character was originally a vagabond. Only because of his crazy behavior and his willingness to help the poor, he was deeply loved by people and was deified into an immortal. Legend has it that he was originally a man, but he is often dressed as a woman in statues or operas and carries a flower basket. It is said that he was originally born as a barefoot immortal. He was originally a wandering Taoist priest. He often wore tattered blue clothes and tied a 3-inch-wide A wooden belt, one foot wearing boots, the other walking barefoot. Wearing cotton clothes in summer, lying in the snow in winter, the breath comes out like steam. He often holds a big recordboard more than 3 feet long and sings while walking around the city. He gets drunk and sings, which seems crazy but not crazy. Men, women and children follow him to see him. When people give him copper coins, he ties it up with a long rope and mops the floor. However, if you are lost, you will not look back. Sometimes when I see poor people, I give them copper coins. He is constantly traveling around the world. He was seen in childhood and old age, and his appearance remained the same. Later, he was singing and getting drunk in Haoliang Restaurant. The sound of clouds and cranes suddenly rose up into the clouds. He threw down his boots, shirt, belt and board, and walked away slowly. His most famous tap song is: The tap song Lan Caihe, how big can the world be? The beautiful spring tree, the fleeting time, the passing shuttle, the ancients wandered away and never returned, today more and more come, riding Luanfeng to the blue sky in the morning, seeing white waves in the mulberry fields at dusk, the long scenery and the bright light in the sky, the gold and silver palace towers are high and graceful! According to the common saying of Han Xiangzi, Han Xiangzi is the nephew (some say grandnephew) of Han Yu, a famous writer in the Tang Dynasty. According to "Book of Tang Dynasty: Genealogy List of Prime Ministers", "Youyang Zazu", "Taiping Guangji", "Xianzhuan Supplements" There are introductions about him in other books. One is called the grandnephew of Han Yu. Historically, Han Yu did have a grandnephew named Han Xiang who served as Dali Cheng. Han Yu once wrote a poem "Moving to Languan from the left to show his nephew Xiang": "A letter was sent to the Nine Heavens in the morning, and eight thousand people were demoted to Chaoyang Road in the evening. If you want to eliminate the evils of the Holy Dynasty, you are willing to decline and cherish your remaining years! Where is Yun Heng's family in Qinling? The snow embraces the blue gate and the horse stops moving forward. I know that you have come from afar and you have a purpose, so that you can collect me by the river with miasma." The legend of his becoming an immortal was first seen in Duan Chengshi's "Youyang Zazu" in the Tang Dynasty. The book states that Han Yu had a nephew who lived far away for a year. He was frivolous and unruly and did not like to study. Han Yu once blamed him, but he could make the peonies change color according to his uncle's request within seven days, and each flower had "Yun Heng" written on it. "Where is the Qinling family..." poem, Han Yu was extremely surprised. It is also said that Han Xiangzi is the nephew of Han Yu, and his deeds are similar to those mentioned in "Youyang Zazu". The prototype of Han Xiangzi's character is Han Yu's nephew, who was immortalized in the Five Dynasties. Legend has it that the gentle gentleman among the Eight Immortals is a handsome young man holding a flute. Han Xiangzi, whose real name is Han Xiang, is the nephew of Han Yu, the Minister of Punishment, a great writer in the Tang Dynasty. Legend has it that the prime minister of the Han Dynasty had a daughter named Lingling, who was both talented and beautiful. Already betrothed to Han Xiang. But the Han Emperor wanted to marry her to his nephew, but Tuo Tuo firmly disagreed. The Han Emperor was furious and dismissed Han Xiang from office. Lingling died of depression, and Han Xiang was reincarnated as Bai He. Bai He was inspired by Zhong Liquan and Lu Dongbin, and was reincarnated as the son of Han Hui in Changli County. His nickname was Xiangzi. He lost his father when he was young and was raised by his uncle Han Yu. When he grew up, he was taught the cultivation techniques by Zhong and Lu Erxian. Han Yu strongly objected and reprimanded him. Because of this, Han Xiangzi became a monk and lived in seclusion in Zhongnan Mountain to practice Taoism. He achieved enlightenment and was listed among the Eight Immortals. Later, Han Xiangzi changed his form many times to save his uncle Han Yu, but Han Yu failed to realize it many times. Later, Han Yu was demoted and sent to Chaoyang. When he passed Languan, he was blocked by snow and was buried in the snow. Xiangzi came to rescue him and gave him guidance. Han Yu finally gained enlightenment and became an immortal by cultivating Taoism. Uncle Cao Guo, ranked at the bottom of the Eight Immortals, appeared the latest and has fewer fairy tales spread. The stories about her life experience are similar, and they are all related to Empress Cao of Song Renzong. According to "History of the Song Dynasty", Cao Yi, courtesy name Gongbo, was the grandson of Cao Bin and the younger brother of Empress Cao. He had an easy temperament, was proficient in music, and loved to compose poems. He was granted the title of Prince of Jiyang County. He went through several dynasties smoothly and died at the age of seventy-two.

"Tongjian of Immortals" says: Uncle Cao Guo was pure and kind in nature and did not like wealth, but he was obsessed with immortality. His younger brother was arrogant and lawless and acted recklessly. Uncle Cao Guo was deeply ashamed of his evil deeds, so he went to the mountains to practice. Zhong Liquan and Lu Dongbin accepted him as their disciple, and soon Cao Guojiu became an immortal. The description of Cao Guojiu in "Journey to the East" is the same as above. Legend has it that the image of this immortal is wearing a gauze hat, red robe and official uniform, holding a yin and yang board (jade board), which is very different from the dress of other immortals. Legend has it that he was the eldest brother of Emperor Song Renzong and Empress Cao of the Song Dynasty, named Jingxiu. He has a pure and good nature, his ambition is pure, he does not admire vanity, and he does not like wealth. Later, because of his arrogance and disobedience to the law, his brother killed people. Cao Guojiu was deeply ashamed, so he hid in the mountains, wearing civilian clothes, but he thought carefully about the mysterious and profound principles. He did not eat for more than 10 days. One day, he met Zhong Liquan and Lu Dongbin. Immortal, they asked: "I heard that you are recuperating, what are you raising?" He replied: "Nursing the Tao." The immortal asked again: "Where is the Tao?" Cao Guojiu raised his finger to the sky. The two immortals asked again: "Where is the sky?" Cao Guojiu pointed at his heart. The two immortals smiled and said, "The heart is heaven, and heaven is Tao. You have suddenly understood the true meaning of Tao." Then they taught him the secret technique of restoring the true nature, and guided him to join the immortal team. There is another saying that when he became a monk, the emperor gave him a gold medal. Later, when he crossed the Yellow River without boat fare, he used it as a mortgage. He happened to meet Lu Dongbin and traveled with him, so he became enlightened and became one of the "Eight Immortals". Each of the Eight Immortals has one or two treasures or magical objects, which are generally called the "Eight Dark Immortals" or the Eight Treasures. They often appear in embroidery and folk art, and they all represent auspiciousness and change with different scenes. Among them, the more popular Dark Eight Immortals are: banana fan (Zhong Liquan), gourd (Tieguai Li), flower basket (Lan Caihe), lotus (He Xiangu), sword (Lv Dongbin), flute (Han Xiangzi), fish drum (Zhang Guolao), jade board (Cao Cao) Uncle Guo) The order of the Eight Immortals was determined as follows: Tieguai Li, Han Zhongli, Zhang Guolao, He Xiangu, Lan Caihe, Lu Dongbin, Han Xiangzi, and Cao Guojiu in the "Journey to the East" by Wu Yuantai of the Ming Dynasty. Since then, there has been no change. Myths and Legends: The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea is one of the most popular stories about the Eight Immortals. It was first seen in the drama "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea". Legend has it that the Immortal Baiyun once returned to Penglai Island when the peonies were in full bloom, and invited the Eight Immortals and the Five Saints to attend the grand ceremony. On the way back, Tieguaili (or Lu Dongbin) suggested not to take a boat but to think of their own solutions. The origin of "supernatural powers" or "the eight immortals crossing the sea, each according to his own ability". At this time, Li Tieguai threw down his other magical weapon, the iron crutch (or gourd), Han Zhongli threw his banana fan, Zhang Guolao put down his mount "paper donkey", and other gods also threw their magical weapons into the water and crossed the East China Sea. As the Eight Immortals' actions alarmed the Dragon Palace, the Dragon King of the East China Sea led his soldiers and crabs to discuss the matter. Unexpectedly, there was a conflict and Lan Caihe was taken back to the Dragon Palace (it was also said that the instrument was robbed). Afterwards, the Eight Immortals went on a killing spree and beheaded the dragon in anger, while the Dragon King of the East China Sea cooperated with the Dragon King of the North Sea, South China Sea and West Sea, creating a storm of chaos for a while. At this time, Cao Guojiu took out the jade board to clear the way, forced the huge waves to both sides, and successfully crossed the sea. Finally, Nanhai Guanyin Bodhisattva (or Tathagata Buddha) came forward to mediate and asked the East China Sea Dragon King to release Lan Caihe, and the two sides ceased fighting. In addition to the above, there are also some word-of-mouth legends about the Eight Immortals among the people, including the tragic story of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea". During the Jianlong period of the Northern Song Dynasty, Salmon Island (today's Miao Island) was a place where the imperial court imprisoned prisoners. Starting from the third year of Jianlong, all soldiers who broke the law were sent to Salmon Island. Year after year, there are more and more prisoners on the island. However, the imperial court only allocates food rations to 300 people on the island every year, so the food is becoming increasingly insufficient. Later, Li Qing, the head guard of Salmon Island, came up with a cruel method: when the number of prisoners exceeded 300, he would tie some of their hands and feet and throw them into the sea to drown, so that the number of prisoners on the island would always be kept at 300. More than 700 people were killed in two years. In order to survive, prisoners often jumped into the sea to escape, but most of them were swallowed up by the waves. Once, more than 50 prisoners received the news that they were about to be killed. Taking advantage of the clear sky and bright moonlight, he avoided the guards, jumped into the sea with gourds and wood in his arms, and swam towards Penglai Mountain. It was about thirty miles from Salmon Island to Penglai. Most of the prisoners on the way were exhausted and drowned in the water. Only eight strong travelers with martial arts skills were left. They swam to the shore by the current and found themselves on Danya in the north of Penglai City. He hid in the lion's cave at the foot of the mountain. The next day, the fishermen discovered them. When they heard that the eight people had swam across the sea from Salmon Island, they were all surprised and called them "gods". This matter spread among the people, and became more and more mysterious. , they were legendary as the "Eight Immortals", which evolved into today's story of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea". Because the Eight Immortals crossed the sea, most people along the coast have the taboo of "seven men and one woman in different boats". The barber industry honors Lu Dongbin as its founder. According to legend, on the so-called birthday of Lu Zu, which is the fourteenth day of the fourth lunar month, the barber industry in various places is generally bustling with activity. Folk birthday celebrations include toasting as the Eight Immortals to exaggerate the joyful atmosphere. Su Dongpo's visit to the Eight Immortals Although Su Dongpo was from the Northern Song Dynasty, the Eight Immortals were formed in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, and Penglai made up a legend about Su Dongpo's visit to the Eight Immortals. Legend has it that when Su Dongpo was an official in Dengzhou, he wanted to visit the Eight Immortals, but he didn't know where to look. After asking around, an old man with white hair and beard told him that every year on the third day of March, the Eight Immortals would gather at Penglai Pavilion. Whether he could see them or not would depend on fate. Early in the morning on the third day of March, Su Dongpo went to Penglai Pavilion and wandered around but did not see the shadow of the Eight Immortals.

I arrived at the Apparition Gate out of boredom and saw two old men playing chess. One had a red face and the other had a black face. They were both over eighty years old and their beard and hair were all white. When the red-faced old man saw Su Dongpo coming, he waved to him to be the referee. Su Dongpo was a talented man, but when he saw the chess game up close, he was dumbfounded and confused, unable to understand the chess moves. To avoid embarrassment, I excused myself. When the red-faced old man saw this, he said to Su Dongpo: "The people you are looking for will definitely come today, and we are waiting for them here. Anyway, it is idle, so you don't have to be polite." Su Dongpo was surprised when he heard this: How did he know? Am I here to find someone? The old man is not an ordinary person, so you are right to listen to him. So I calmed down and watched the chess moves quietly, and gradually saw some tricks, and didn't think too much about it. I don’t know how long it took, an old beggar came over and called out to the old man playing chess from a distance: "Old man, it’s my turn to treat today, let’s go, let’s go!" The red-faced old man pointed at Su Dongpo: "There is another one here. "The old beggar glanced at Su Dongpo and said, "Then let's come together." Su Dongpo looked at the old beggar. His clothes were ragged and dirty, and his face was stained. The grease is thick enough to peel off a layer. I didn't want to follow him at first, but when I thought about my suspicion about the old chess player just now, I followed him. When I got to the Penglai Pavilion, I saw that there were already seven people there, some tall, some short, some fat, some thin, including a woman among them. There are two small pots and a side of rice cakes on the square table with high legs. The old beggar said to everyone: "There is nothing to entertain today, so I have prepared three side dishes. Let's eat together!" Su Dongpo looked over and saw a half-baked dead dog and a dead child with crooked eyes and a crooked mouth. A side of rice cake covered with mold. No one in this group was polite, they just grabbed it and ate it with gusto, and even praised it as "delicious". Su Dongpo just felt disgusted, especially that damn child. He let these people pull his arms and legs, and it was so bloody that it was scary to see. He originally wanted to try the rice cake, but when he saw that it smelled like blood, he gave up the idea. The two white-haired old men refused to let Su Dongpo eat, but how could Su Dongpo dare to eat it? Seeing everyone devouring their food, they left one after another, leaving only the two old men playing chess. The old man called Su Dongpo to him and asked, "Who do you think we are?" Su Dongpo shook his head. The red-faced old man said: "I am the Antarctic Immortal, and he is the North Star Lord. The eight people here just now are the Eight Immortals you are looking for. I will also tell you about the three dishes on the table: that dead dog is the one with ten thousand years of life. The dog; the dead child is a thousand-year-old ginseng; the moldy rice cake is a longevity cake. If you eat one bite, you will live an extra 100 years; if you eat two bites, you will live 200 years longer... Tieguai Li spent a lot of time to get these three things! "After saying that, the two white-haired old men suddenly disappeared. Su Dongpo regretted it extremely, why didn't he bite the bullet and taste it just now? ! Jiudinghuixian Mountain There is Weiyang Mountain more than 30 miles southwest of Penglai City. There are nine peaks on the mountain, with different shapes, some big and some small. According to folklore, these nine peaks are also related to the Eight Immortals. According to legend, on the third day of March one year, the Eight Immortals went to Penglai Pavilion for a gathering. When passing by Weiyang Mountain, they were attracted by the beautiful scenery. Lu Dongbin enthusiastically took off his Taoist robe and covered it on a big blue stone. He used magic to create a banquet. The immortals sat on the ground, admiring the mountain scenery, exchanging cups and drinking. After a while, they all became drunk. Tieguai Li leaned on the treasure gourd and said with drunken eyes: "This time I am crossing the sea to visit friends, all you have to do is lie on my treasure gourd and fool around, and it will be over in a while..." Zhang Guolao stared at the drunken eyes, not knowing. He said convincingly: "Who cares about your broken gourd? I was riding a donkey. I slapped the donkey on the butt and passed away with a whoop." Several others also boasted about their abilities. Seeing that there would be no result in the argument, Han Zhongli said with a big belly: "Today we are crossing the sea, everyone will use their own magic. I invite the Supreme Lord to come and judge. Who is more capable will be determined by then." , Lu Dongbin took off his Taoist crown, sat cross-legged respectfully, his eyes were slightly closed, and he silently performed his magical skills. A wisp of green smoke slowly rose from his head, turned into a golden light, and went straight into the sky. About the time of a pack of cigarettes, an auspicious cloud floated from the southwest sky, and Taishang Laojun came riding a green ox. The Eight Immortals recovered from their staggering drunken state and stood solemnly to greet him. Taishang Laojun lowered his head and asked: "Dongbin sent a golden light to invite me, why?" Lu Dongbin came forward and bowed and said: "Master, my disciple has a difficult matter to solve, please forgive me." Then he talked about the mana test. After hearing this, Taishang Laojun pondered for a moment and said: "The art of crossing water is just a trivial skill, how can it be so moral! How can you cultivators be so eager to compete for supremacy?" After hearing this, all the immortals were surprised. He looks ashamed. The old man said again: "Doing good deeds according to circumstances and spreading blessings widely is the right way to practice Taoism. The scenery here is beautiful, why don't you use your own magic to benefit the world?" All the immortals suddenly understood and stepped forward to express their gratitude. Later, Lu Dongbin wore his hair, staff and sword, stepped on the Tiangang and stepped on the ground. He muttered something in his mouth, pointed the sword and shouted "rise", and a steep mountain suddenly appeared. Zhang Guolao cheered up and rode his donkey backwards in a circle. A mountain peak covered with strange rocks appeared in front of him. Then Tieguaili, Han Zhongli, Cao Guojiu, Han Xiangzi, He Xiangu, Lan Caihe also used their magical powers one after another to build a mountain peak each. When Taishang Laojun saw it, he was very happy and said: "You guys, just stand aside and wait for me to build one, so that this trip will be worthwhile." After that, he waved the dust in his hand, and a high peak rose from the ground. , towering Cui Wei, vast and vast, its magnificence is far above other peaks, which makes all the immortals marvel. When the Eight Immortals came to their senses, Taishang Laojun had already climbed onto the green ox and headed to Tushita Palace. This is the origin of the nine peaks of Weiyang Mountain.

Later, the "Jiudingshan Temple Fair" was formed on the third day of March every year. The two giant dragon-head monuments standing in front of the mountain gate have records of "Jiudinghui Fairy Mountain". There is a Sophora japonica tree from the Tang Dynasty in the courtyard of Tianhou Palace in Penglai Danya Mountain, but it is said that this "Tang Sophora japonica" tree did not exist a long time ago. After the Eight Immortals arrived in Penglai, Tieguai Li and Zhang Guolao (someone said Lu Dongbin) were playing chess in this courtyard, under the scorching sun, which could not cover them. Tieguai Li then poured a seed from his gourd and buried it in the ground. He cast a spell and chanted the incantation. In a blink of an eye, green shoots sprouted from the ground and soon grew into a large locust tree with lush branches and leaves and an umbrella-like crown. The two immortals continued to play chess under this tree. It is said that the tree has not changed in any way since its growth. Because it was created by an immortal casting a spell, it will no longer grow or die. It will always look like this. During the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, a fire broke out in Tianhou Palace, destroying more than 30 temples and temples overnight. However, this Tang locust tree survived, which makes people wonder: Could this locust tree really be planted by the Eight Immortals? There are many legends about the Eight Immortals in Penglai, but most of them are related to the origin of the place names, such as "Tongjing", "Nantianmen", "Taihe Temple", "Xiaozu Temple", "Immortal Cave", "Biandan Stone" , "Four Eyed Wells", etc. Due to limited space, we cannot elaborate on them one by one. It is better to go deep into the Penglai people and listen to them. The folk stories told by the people may be far more vivid than what appears on paper.