Editing Eight Immortals

The '''Eight Immortals''' ({{zh|t=八仙}}) are a group of legendary ''[[Xian (Taoism)|xian]]'' ("immortals") in [[Chinese mythology]]. Each immortal's power can be transferred to a vessel ({{lang|zh|法器}}) that can bestow life or destroy evil. Together, these eight vessels are called the "Covert Eight Immortals" ({{lang|zh-hant|暗八仙}}). Most of them are said to have been born in the [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] or [[Song dynasty|Song Dynasty]]. They are revered by the [[Taoism|Taoist]]s and are also a popular element in secular [[Chinese culture]]. They are said to live on a group of five islands in the [[Bohai Sea]], which includes [[Mount Penglai]].

在傳統的繪畫、雕刻中，常以八仙表示吉祥，直接明示八仙八位尊神者，稱「明八仙」；以八仙之法器表示者，稱「暗八仙」。八仙每人都有一至二樣[[寶物]]或[[法器]]，一般稱為八寶，常出現於[[刺繡]]、瓷器紋飾、建築裝飾和民間藝術之中，均代表吉祥之意，而且隨場景不同而變換。其中較為通俗的八寶為：
* [[蒲扇]]，代表[[鍾離權]]
* [[葫蘆]]，代表[[鐵拐李]]
* [[花籃]]，代表[[藍采和]]
* [[荷花]]，代表[[何仙姑]]
* [[寶劍]]，代表[[呂洞賓]]
* [[竹笛]]，代表[[韓湘子]]
* [[魚鼓]]，代表[[張果老]]
* [[玉板]]，代表[[曹國舅]]


The Immortals are:
* [[He Xiangu]] ({{lang|zh-hant|何仙姑}}), in modern context generally seen as the only female of the group, often depicted holding a lotus flower.
* [[Cao Guojiu]] ({{lang|zh-hant|曹國舅}}), related to a [[Song dynasty]] emperor before he became an immortal.
* [[Li Tieguai]] ({{lang|zh-hant|李鐵拐}}), considered to be mentally disturbed and associated with medicine and easing the suffering of the sick and needy,<ref>{{cite book|last=Ho|first=Kwok Man|title=The Eight Immortals of Taoism: Legends and Fables of Popular Taoism|publisher=Penguin Books|others=Translated and edited by Joanne O'Brien|year=1990|isbn=9780452010703|location=New York|page=1|ref={{harvid|Ho|O'Brien|1990}}}}</ref> identified by his iron crutch and [[calabash]] bottle.<ref name="britannica">{{cite web|date=2008|title=Li T'ieh-kuai|url=http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9048083|access-date=26 October 2008|website=Encyclopædia Britannica Online|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref>
* [[Lan Caihe]] ({{lang|zh-hant|藍采和}}), originally pictured as female later developed an ambiguous or more accurately, a "transformative" gender and is considered the patron of [[Floristry|florists]]<ref name="NatGeo">National Geographic Society (U.S.). ''National Geographic Essential Visual History of World Mythology.'' National Geographic Books, 2008. Page 340.</ref><ref name="Perkins140">Dorothy Perkins. ''Encyclopedia of China: History and Culture.'' Page 140.</ref> and gardeners.<ref name="GarrettDress">Valery M. Garrett. ''A Collector's Guide to Chinese Dress Accessories.'' Times Books International, 1997. Page 32.</ref>
* [[Lü Dongbin]] ({{lang|zh-hant|呂洞賓}}), a scholar and poet considered to be the leader of the Eight Immortals.
* [[Han Xiangzi]] ({{lang|zh-hant|韓湘子}}), a flute artist.
* [[Zhang Guolao]] ({{lang|zh-hant|張果老}}), a ''[[fangshi]]'' symbol of longevity.
* [[Han Zhongli]] ({{lang|zh-hant|汉鍾離}}), associated with death and the power to create silver and gold, often depicted holding a fan.