(JG THE EIGHT IMMORTALS OF THE TAOIST RELIGION 



honorary appointment in the "Imperial Banqueting Court. "* 

 and with the title of aE 2 9c Ik in allusion to his super- 

 natural powers. About A.D. 740 the Emperor once more 

 summoned him to Court but the messenger had scarcely 

 reached the sage when he expired, or, as the Taoists assert, 

 entered on immortality, without suffering bodily dissolution, 

 thus supporting the second theory concerning immortality. 

 The Emperor erected in his honour a fane, which he entitled 

 Wi M. M , and offered him sacrifices. 



His life being very erratic the narration of his wanderings 

 is of great interest. His constant companion as well as 

 carrier was a white mule. He rode facing backwards, and 

 within the limits of a single day could cover a distance of 

 thousands of miles. When he halted he folded the mule up 

 and hid it away in his wallet, as a sheet of paper. When 

 again he required its services he squirted water upon the 

 packet from his mouth, and the beast at once resumed its 

 proper shape and trotted away. 



It is rather strange what such an old ascetic could have 

 to do with matrimonial happiness and fertility of the bride, 

 but here is the account about him. "Chang-kuo 

 sitting on a donkey, offers also a descendant to the newly 

 married couple, and a picture representing him is often 

 found in the nuptial chamber."! Perhaps this is due to the 

 belief that since he was a performer of wonderful feats of 

 necromancy, he could also be interested in the mystery of 

 production, although he himself never encouraged it in his 

 lifetime. 



5. Ho Hsiex-ku ft filj & . 



That the Madonna should occupy a place of veneration 

 in the Christian Church is not at all strange compared with 

 the fact that Ho Hsien-ku should take rank with the others 

 as an immortal. In the Taoist cult, women never occupy 

 prominent positions, and no system of female asceticism is 

 developed. Monasticism and conventualism were the con- 

 tributions of Buddhism, and nuns are by no means Taoists, 

 but rather Buddhists. Indeed, nothing is known of female 

 Taoists who however are many, no doubt leading segregated 

 lives. Even some of them are very fervent seekers 

 after the elixir of immortality, no less so than men, but 

 seclusion in the mountains, living the life of the men recluse, 

 and in independent quest for the immortal herb would be 



* Chinese name of the office $g ^ % jjjf£ ^ ^ 



t Henry Dore, S.J. : Recherches sur les Superstitions en Chine. 



