The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea

The Eight Immortals once decided to set out on an expedition across the sea. They wanted to see the marvels of the ocean, wonders that could not be found anywhere in the heavens.

Usually, when the Immortals traveled, each of them simply sat on a cloud and floated away. But this time Lü Tung-pin, who was also called Lü Yen, had a better idea. “Let’s show how many different talents we have,” he said. “Each of us will put something down on the surface of the sea and ride across on it.”

So Li T’ieh-kuai threw down his crutch and went skimming swiftly over the waves. Chung-li Ch’üan rode on his feather fan, and Chang Kuo on his paper mule. Lü Tung-pin used his sword, and Han Hsiang Tzŭ his flower basket. Ho Hsien Ku, the one woman among them, floated on her lotus flower. Lan Ts’ai-ho stood on his musical instrument, and Ts’ao Kuo-chiu on the tablet that allowed him to enter the emperor’s court.

But the son of the Dragon-King of the Eastern Sea caught sight of Lan Ts’ai-ho’s musical instrument. The greedy young prince made up his mind to steal it and to take its owner prisoner.

At that, the Immortals declared war on the dragons. The battle was long and fierce, and in the end the Dragon-King was completely defeated.

After that the Eight Immortals went on exploring beneath the sea for who knows how long, and they had countless more adventures there.

About this story

This legend comes from E. T. C. Werner’s Myths and Legends of China (London: George G. Harrap, 1922), in his chapter on the Eight Immortals. Werner explains that the Chinese phrase Pa Hsien kuo hai, “the Eight Immortals crossing the sea,” refers to this expedition. He gives only a short account and says that Chinese writers describe the war with the Dragon-King at great length, and that the Immortals’ later adventures under the sea belong to the realm of romance.

Werner also notes that popular pictures often show most of the Immortals’ objects changed into different kinds of sea creatures as they carry their owners over the waves.

Read the original: Werner’s Myths and Legends of China (Project Gutenberg)

Best for all ages — eight magical travelers, eight magical rides and a greedy dragon prince.

When a tool becomes a trophy

The immortals begin by choosing different means to cross the same sea. Their objects express individual ability. The dragon prince sees Lan’s instrument as something to possess, and that change of purpose turns exploration into conflict. The immortals then need collective action where separate ingenuity had been enough.

Draw use and desire

Choose two crossing objects and sketch how their owners use them. Beside Lan’s instrument, add what the prince wants it for. How does wanting someone else’s means of travel change the journey for everyone?

Talk about it

• What did each Immortal use to cross the sea? Which would you choose?
• Why did Lü Tung-pin want them to cross the sea this way instead of on clouds?
• What started the war with the Dragon-King?

Related stories

• The Eight Immortals (I) — Wilhelm’s portraits of each of the Eight Immortals
• The Spirits of the Yellow River — a river Dragon-King with surprising powers
• The Dragon-Princess — a dragon-princess in her cave who repays an emperor with magic pearls