Chinese legend · 声匠改编 · 3:56
The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea
Eight immortals cross the Eastern Sea on their own magic treasures, no clouds allowed, until Lan Caihe's glowing jade board catches a dragon prince's eye.
Narrator
Lu Dongbin
He Xiangu
Lan Caihe
The Dragon Prince
GuanyinOther languages · 2 languages
About this story
The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea is one of China's best-known legends, and it lives on in a popular saying: the Eight Immortals cross the sea, each showing their own powers. The eight are Iron-Crutch Li, Han Zhongli, Zhang Guolao, Lu Dongbin, He Xiangu, Lan Caihe, Han Xiangzi and Cao Guojiu, a line-up that became fixed during the Ming dynasty. The crossing is told in a Yuan–Ming play, Fighting over the Jade Board: the Eight Immortals Cross the Sea, and in Wu Yuantai's Ming novel Journey to the East (Dongyouji), where the Dragon King's son steals Lan Caihe's jade board and starts a war. This version keeps the fight over the board, makes the battle lively rather than violent, and ends with Guanyin making peace and the Dragon King giving the board back.
What it teaches
Everyone has their own strengths, and each of us can tackle a hard job in our own way; when a friend is in trouble, everyone pulls together. The Dragon Prince is a simple lesson too: however much you like something, you can't just grab it.
Suits
Ages 4–10
Tips for telling it
- Speed up through the crossing, one immortal at a time, and let your child count all eight on their fingers.
- Play a matching game afterwards: name an immortal and have your child name their treasure.
- Talk about the saying each showing their own powers, and ask: what are you best at?
Questions people ask
- Who are the Eight Immortals?
- They are eight Daoist immortals of Chinese legend: Iron-Crutch Li (Li Tieguai), Han Zhongli, Zhang Guolao, Lu Dongbin, He Xiangu, Lan Caihe, Han Xiangzi and Cao Guojiu. Each has a signature treasure, such as Li's gourd, Han Zhongli's fan, Lu Dongbin's sword and Han Xiangzi's flute, and He Xiangu is the only woman among them.
- What is the story of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea?
- On their way home from the Queen Mother of the West's peach banquet, the Eight Immortals agree to cross the Eastern Sea without riding clouds, each on their own magic treasure. The Dragon King's son steals Lan Caihe's glowing jade board, a battle breaks out with the Dragon Palace, and in the end the board is returned. Folk tradition says they set off from Penglai in Shandong.
- What does The Eight Immortals cross the sea mean?
- The full saying, ba xian guo hai, ge xian shen tong, means the Eight Immortals cross the sea, each showing their own powers. People use it when everyone brings their own skills or methods to a task, or when rivals each do their best to win.
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