THE EIGHT IMMORTALS OF THE TAOIST RELIGION 71 



his way to his place of banishment which was Chao-chow 

 ( $8 itl in Kwang-tung Province) his nephew suddenly ap- 

 peared to him and asked if he remembered the verses in the 

 flowers. By a strange coincidence the rigour of the climate 

 was exactly as described in the couplet, there being a snow 

 storm which blocked the way of the unfortunate outcast. 

 The uncle and nephew then lodged at the Lan Gate for the 

 night, while the prophet discoursed on Taoism, and the way 

 to enter Immortality. On the ensuing day, Han Hsiang 

 presented to his uncle a gourd full of pills, which he said 

 would keep him even in the coldest weather. Han Yii en- 

 quired if he might again see him, but he replied he could 

 not tell, and then he departed and disappeared. 



8. Ts'ao Kuo-chiu W MU . 



The seven supernatural beings, having all attained to 

 immortality were one day feasting in the celestial Utopia. 

 In the midst of their carousing, Tieh-kuai, who had always 

 been the leader and spokesman, thus declared: "We are 

 seven here, and have occupied seven of the eight grottoes 

 of the Upper Spheres. If we get one more to complete the 

 category that would be capital. Have any of you an idea 

 of nominating one, worthy of the vacancy? I have heard 

 that Empress Ts'ao has a younger brother whose disposition 

 resembles that of a genii. He, I think, deserves to join our 

 ranks." Then Chung-li answered, "Well, I will some day 

 try to tempt him. If he is really of a mystic disposition 

 and his conduct agrees with Tao, I can easily bring about 

 his transmigration." The motion was approved and carried. 

 This was the reason why the Eighth Immortal was Ts'ao 

 Kuo-chiu. 



Now Ts'ao Kuo-chiu was the younger brother of the 

 Empress W & Jo of the Sung Dynasty. His brother Tsao Er 

 If n was a man of detestable character. Trusting to royal 

 relationship he indulged in debauchery and roguish conduct. 

 He robbed the commoners of their property and women of 

 their virtue. This of course highly affronted Kuo-chiu who was 

 a man of exemplary character himself. At first he advised 

 him, then rebuked him, but only made an enemy rather than 

 a convert of him. Thus Kuo Chiu said in his expostulation 

 with his brother: "It is the law of nature that good doers 

 prosper whilst evil-doers perish, and there is no change in it. 

 Our present riches and dignity are due to the accumulated 

 merits of our ancestors. Your crimes are big enough to 

 bring about your downfall. Although you may escape the 

 penalty of the law you can never elude the net of heaven 



