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Lu Dongbin

Of the Eight Immortals, Lu Dongbin has the highest position in Taoism, and the most stories. He is also known as Lu Chunyang. Several important temples have been dedicated to him, for example Chunyang Hall on Mt. Emei, one of the five holy mountains in China.

As with all of the immortals, there are several different stories about his origin, and the following is my personal favourite. It says that Lu Dongbin came from Jingzhao, northwest of today’s Chang’an County in Shaanxi, and lived during the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907 A.D.). The imperial examinations were the way into royal service, wealth, and status for educated Chinese at that time. After many failed attempts to pass the exams, Lu Dongbin had decided to take his own life. Thankfully, before he could do this, he met Han Zhongli, another of the Eight Taoist Immortals. He persuaded Lu Dongbin to rest for a while in a cave, and as he was sleeping, Han Zhongli cooked a pot of millet.

Lu Dongbin dreamt that he had been given the title of Zhuangyuan by the emperor, meaning that he had got the highest mark in the imperial examinations. He was given a high position, and a handsome salary. Soon after, he married a beautiful girl from a rich, powerful family. After a few years, he had a family of his own, and became prime minister.

Suddenly, after ten years of this luxurious and privileged life, the emperor became angry with him, stripped him of his titles and rank, took all his possessions, enslaved and jailed his family, and banished him from the country. He travelled to the Zhongnan Mountains in order to take his life by jumping from a cliff. Just before he was about to jump, he woke up. Han Zhongli was watching him as he fanned the fire, smiling. From this point on, Lu Dongbin decided to forget the mortal, material world, and followed Han Zhongli in the ways of Taoism.

Lu Dongbin was friendly and good natured. He travelled widely eliminating evils and demons, solving disputes, and treating diseases, and as a result his temples attracted many visitors in the past times. Like many of the Eight Immortals, he taught other members of the eight the way to immortality through the practice of Taoism. In his case, Han Xiangzi and Cao Guojiu.