Legends

"If you want to find the immortals
Go to the five sacred peaks,
They will be never far."

                                                      Li Bei ancient poet

The Pa Hsien, Eight Taoist Immortals, were real historical figures who became immortal by achieving the Tao through inner alchemy [nei dan] practice. Almost all Taoist Immortals began their lives as human beings (ren). After they undergo a spiritual and physical transformation they can exist beyond the bounds of yin and yang and become known as adepts or immortals (xian) or realized beings (shenren).

The stories about them date to no earlier than the Ming dynasty and most, excluding Chun Li Chuan, of the eight are either Tang dynasty or pre-Song figures. The Eight Immortals were worshipped by the Complete Realization (Quanzhen) sect of Taoism from the 14th century on.

Zhongli Quan , Chun Li Chuan, " Master Cloud Chamber," received the meditation formulas from the Tao in the state of Shu which was in present day Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces and seven of the eight immortals were from the Shaanxi area.

Zhongli Quan was followed by Lu Yan, Dongbin, "cavern guest", who flourished around 777A.D., he was also known as Ancestor Lu. The Yongle Gong (Hall of Purified Yang) was the great Quanzhen sect temple in southern Shanxi province, built during the 13th century and painted with early depictions of the Eight Immortals during the 14th century. It has 52 scenes from Lu Dongbin's life on murals on the walls.

Lu Dongbin taught inner alchemy to Han Hsiang-tzu, and He Xiangu, and they in turn taught four others who then left Shaanxi and spread the nei dan practice to the rest of China and founded different schools of Taoism. Shaanxi remains an important center of Taoism.

The Eight Immortals are usually listed as Zhong-li Quan, Lu Dong bin, Li Tieguai, Zhang Guolao, He Xiangu, Lan Cai He, Han Xianzi, Cao Guojin. There were, however, many more and this list is often disputed. Cults of specific immortals are documented as early as the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.) and included both male and female figures.

Other Chinese martial heros include Chang Liang who was a famous warrior who helped to over throw the corrupt Chin and start the Han dynasty and Guan Yu, a late Han era general under warlord Lu Bei. Other generals who entered the Taoist pantheon for martial virtue included General Ma Chu, General Cheung Fei, General Huang Chung, and General Chu Wen.

 

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