The Eight Immortals
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Glasgow Museums has a set of porcelain figures known as The Eight Immortals. The Eight Immortals continue to be as much an important part of the popular imagery of China as they are Taoist deities. The idea is that the human body served as the abode of souls that would separate after death and disperse to various places. Each immortal carries a special auspicious object which identifies them and each has a special ability. 1. Li Tieguai is represented by a gourd-bottle; 2. Cao Guojiu is represented by castanets; 3. Han Xiangzi is represented by a flute; 4. Zhongli Quan is represented by a fan; 5. Lü Dongbin is represented by a sword; 6. Zhang Guolao is represented by a tube-shaped bamboo drum; 7. Lan Caihe is represented by a basket of flowers; 8. He Xiangu is represented by a lotus stalk.
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