The Eight Immortals of Taoism

This is a collection of tales and legends about the semi-divine Eight Immortals of Taoism. Each of these eight figures is supposed to have lived as an historical person and indeed in certain cases their historical lives have been proved. The main role of the Eight Immortals is as symbols of the success of Taoist discipline and magic. They are seen as testimonies to the possibility that humans can achieve immortality through Taoism, and associated with them are legends covering the whole range of human life and experience. This book provides a view of Taoist practice through the centuries and is intended as a study of popular Chinese religious beliefs.