The Eight Immortals of Taoism: Legends and Fables of Popular Taoism

If you're interested in information on the eight immortals, you'll have to look long and hard to find more information than packed into this slim volume. Think of the immortals as being cultural figures as well known and diverse as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy (or, for Thomas the Tank engine fans, as different as Thomas, Gordon and Henry), and you'll have a sense of the role the eight immortals play in Chinese culture.Also, the introduction has the best discussion I've seen of the difference between philisophical taoism (which is the form best known in the West) and religious or mystical taoism.Highly recommended if you're interested in the eight immortals and/or learning more about mystical taoism.

The eight immortals of Chinese myth are detailed here. There are several group tales along with some folktales focusing on each of the individual immortals. The eight immortals are of special appeal to modern audiences as they embody diverse aspects of society, then and now. There is a warrior immortal, a student immortal, a crippled immortal and an androgynous immortal ("sometimes male, sometimes female)who seems to me to be a little gay! There is also a woman immortal, and while only one woman out of eight, it was still a statement at the time to have her included in the group. There are a lot of stories of the eight included here that you are unlikely to find elsewhere, and Martin Palmer provides some background for the setting of the stores in his introduction that helps the reader better understand them in context. My only complaint is I would have liked more about their evolution as a group over the centuries. Overall a good read for people interested in Chinese folklore and positive representations of diversity in legends.