Carved Chinese Shoushan stone sculptures of The Eight Immortals, are a group of legendary Xian immortals in Chinese mythology. Each immortal's holding a power tool that can bestow life or destroy evil. Together, these eight tools are called the "Covert Eight Immortals". They are revered by the Taoists and are also a popular element in the secular Chinese culture. The Eight Immortals are eight Daoist's who have attained immortality and include:
1) Han Zhongli, also known as Zhongli Quan, was a Han Dynasty general and is usually shown carrying a feather fan which he uses to revive the dead.
2) Lu Dongbin, known for his drinking and fighting abilities, carries a demon-slaying sword. He also carries a fly whisk which he uses to walk on clouds, fly to heaven, and sweep away ignorance. (See Lu Dongbin Charm.)
3) Zhang Guolao rides a donkey, sometimes seated backwards, and carries a tube-shaped bamboo musical instrument called a yugu.
4) Li Tieguai, known as "Li with the iron crutch", is a crippled beggar who carries a gourd filled with a magic elixir.
5) He Xiangu is the only female in the group and usually carries a kitchen ladle, lotus, peach or fly whisk. She is known for her filial devotion, ability to resolve domestic disputes and is seen as the patron of household management.
6) Han Xiangzi carries a flute and can predict the future and make fruits and flowers grow out of season. He represents youth and is seen as the patron of fortune-tellers.
7) Cao Guojiu carries a ruyi scepter or castanets which are two long "clappers" thought to symbolize the ceremonial tables required for admission to the imperial court. How he became an immortal is described in the Ming Dynasty novel "Journey to the West".
8) Lan Caihe, depicted as a male or female or hermaphrodite, usually holds a fruit/flower basket, a bowl or a flute and whose story is also told in "Journey to the West".

Dimension Largest in Set (stones): 99mm H x 29.6mm W (Weight): 58.2G

EXCELLENT

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