THE EIGHT IMMORTALS OF THE TAOIST RELIGION 57 



make a quest for the elixir of immortality of the genii who 

 dwelt in the three spiritual mountains of Feng-lai ^ M 

 Fang-chang % 5t and Ying-chow H $N in the Yellow Sea. 

 Hence an expedition of several thousand boys and maidens 

 was sent out for this purpose, but they never reached their 

 destination though they were said to have come in sight of 

 these wonderful islands. Here we see a great expedition 

 being undertaken to look for the elixir of eternal life for the 

 emperor, showing that the idea of immortality had already 

 inflamed the minds of men for this exquisite possession. 



Coming to the Han Dynasty, the Taoists found an en- 

 thusiastic patron in the person of Wu Ti 140-86 B.C. Like 

 Ts'in Shih Hwang this Emperor was a great conqueror, and 

 a great search Was made for the genii and for the philoso- 

 pher's stone. From this time forth the country was in a more 

 or less feverish state of search for the pills of immortality 

 which were supposed to be mysteriously extracted from some 

 unknown substance. Many were the zealous applicants 

 who banished themselves from society, and entered into the 

 deep mountains and dreary regions in search of the immortal 

 dose. And many were reported to have been successful and 

 actually attained immortality. 



The classical Chinese literature, that is the thirteen 

 canonical classics, and the standard Chinese History prior to 

 this period, do not contain even the word genii ( 'fill ) but 

 beginning from this period books on genii began to multiply; 

 and we have a whole legion of men who have entered upon 

 this state of existence. Let us now see some of the charac- 

 teristics attributed to these supernatural beings, and the 

 place of their habitation. 



The name of genii is a figurative term for happiness. 

 No doubt they are absolutely free from the trammels and 

 limitations of this world of matter. They are not influenced 

 by the forces at work on earth, but they can still have com- 

 munication with men therein. As will be seen later in the 

 lives of the Eight Genii, they very often mixed with men and 

 carried on benevolent works. They are tutelary deities, good 

 spirits, and merciful benefactors of humanity. 



They possess wonderful art and perform enviable feats 

 of might. They drive in chariots of cloud; they are en- 

 veloped in effulgent glory ; they partake of the blessing of the 

 heavenly peach ; they mount on the fleeting dragon or downy 

 stork, and travel thousands of miles a day; they dwell in 

 palaces of pearls and jadestones, and sleep in shady and ex- 

 hilarating grottoes. One important characteristic ascribed 

 to them is the power of transfiguration. In their frequent 

 visitations to the earth, they take human forms, and are' 



