Picture of the Eight Immortals (Anonymous), 八仙圖(佚名).
The Eight Immortals are the eight immortals in Taoism, representing eight different groups of people, men, women, old and young, poor, lowly, rich and noble. Since the Eight Immortals are all mortals who have attained Taoism, their personalities are closer to those of the common people. Recently, they have become very important representatives of immortals in Taoism.
There are many origins and versions of the Eight Immortals. The Eight Immortals in "Journey to the East" written by Wu Yuantai, a writer of the Ming Dynasty, are: Tieguaili, Han Zhongli, Zhang Guolao, Lu Dongbin, He Xiangu, Lan Caihe, Han Xiangzi, and Cao Guojiu.
Mr. Zichen Shi, a famous calligrapher, specially inscribed the first couplet for the Eight Immortals and mounted it on the upper part of the paintings.