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The unicorn flew to the moon, crashed into a tree, and immediately
changed into a fruit like those hanging from its branches.
The donkey also came crashing into the tree, and Chang Kuo
fell to the ground. Chang Kuo was despondent. How close
he had come to immortality. Suddenly, Lao Tzu appeared
and offered him a fruit from the tree. As Chang Kuo ate
the fruit he felt his body filled with boundless energy,
and he thanked his benefactor for his immortality. Chang
rested on the moon for a few days and then returned to the
earth.
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HANG CHUNG LI
Han
Chung Li is represented as a man with
a large belly who lies or sits comfortably with a
feather fan to keep him cool and a whisk to keep off
flies. He
is said to have been a general who had failed in an
assignment to control a border dispute and went into
voluntary exile.
Han retreated into the mountains and after
years of meditation and self-examination received
enlightenment. He
traveled into the upper realms of immortality after
various miracles on earth, among them, turning copper
into gold and, some legends say, finding the formula
for the pill of immortality.
He is considered to be the patron of long life
and good fortune, especially in gambling.
-
P.C.
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Han
Hsiang Tzu best represents true harmony
The
popular story of the Dragon Girl explains how Han Hsiang
Tzu attained immortality.
Said to have been the nephew of Tang dynasty statesman
Han Yu, he is most famous for having made a rose garden
bloom in the dead of winter, within a week. The blooms occurred in a number of predicated
colors, with each flower displaying a poem. Han Hsiang Tzu performed this feat as part
of an attempt to convert his famous uncle to Taoism. Han Yu is said to have witnessed this and other miracles by his
nephew. Han Hsiang
Tzu is always pictured with his flute, his primary symbol,
and is honored as the patron of musicians.
He is considered to be the immortal who best represents
true harmony in all things, the Taoist ideal.
The Dragon Girl. Han Hsiang Tzu came to the shores of the Eastern Sea.
At the close of the day, he played his flute and
was heard by the beautiful Dragon Girls.
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Copyright 2001 THE
WORLD AND I Magazine. All rights reserved.
The World & I is published monthly by News World Communications,
Inc.
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Five
Tales from
China
Author:
Yao-wen Li
June 1986
The
Dragon King's
Daughter
Author:
Shien Min Jen
October 1988
Yu-yen
Author:
Pack Carnes
August 1990
The
Eight Immortals,
Part 1
Author:
Pack Carnes
December 1993
Flower,
Birds,
and Butterflies
Author:
David Hicks
November 1997
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