Bailey Donnally

The kindly Ho Hsien Ku is the only female among the Eight Immortals. She is depicted in this figurine (left) and woodcut (right).

Ho Hsien Ku’s mean mistress. Ho Hsien Ku was a young, beautiful, charitable girl who was employed as the servant of a mean old woman.  Ho worked all day for little reward or sustenance, but she never complained and stoically suffered the hardships of her lot.  One day the immortals, disguised as traveling beggars, came to the door and asked for food.  Ho knew that she would be punished when her mistress discovered food missing, but she could not turn away seven hungry men.  So she cooked rice and gave each beggar a bowl.  They thanked her profusely and moved off.

Soon after, the mistress of the house returned and immediately knew that rice was missing.  She confronted Ho, who confessed that she had taken pity on the poor men and given them food.  Ho was forced to find the men and ask them to return the rice.

The immortals were happy to help.  They returned to the house and vomited up the rice in turn.  The nasty woman then demanded that Ho eat the regurgitated food. “Eat every bit or you will be beaten,” she snarled. “This will teach you not to give away my property.”

Ho ate the food from the floor, but a marvelous event occurred.  With each bite she became lighter and lighter.  Soon, she floated away from the little house, away from the terrible woman, away from her miserable life.

The immortals had come to earth to test the girl and take her into their group.  Ho Hsien Ku stayed with them and helped the poor and infirm without any thought of her own personal welfare.  She proved worthy of their company and has traveled with them ever since.

Pack Carnes is professor of Japanese studies and folklore at Lake Forest College. Part One of this essay appeared in the December 1993 issue of THE WORLD & I.