Baxian

Daoism

Also known as: Eight Immortals, Pa Hsien

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Article History

Wade-Giles:: romanization Pa Hsien

English:: Eight Immortals

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Baxian, heterogeneous group of holy Daoists, each of whom earned the right to immortality and had free access to the Peach Festival of Xiwangmu, Queen Mother of the West. Though unacquainted in real life, the eight are frequently depicted as a group—bearing gifts, for instance, to Shouxing, god of longevity, to safeguard their immortality.

In Chinese art they sometimes stand alone or appear in smaller groups. Four of them, for example, may be depicted reclining beneath a pine tree—with Zhongli Quan and Lü Dongbin drinking wine heated by Li Tieguai while Lan Caihe entertains them on a flute. Lists vary, but the other four immortals are usually identified as Zhang Guolao, Han Xiang, Cao Guojiu, and He Xiangu.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.