What role do the Eight Immortals play in Heavenly Court after their ascension?What is the difference between immortals and humans?
The legend of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea is very mysterious. The eight immortals are Tie Guan Li, Han Zhongli, Zhang Guolao, Lan Caihe, He Xiangu, Lu Dongbin, Han Xiangzi and Uncle Cao Guo, who hurried to Penglai Immortal Island after the peach banquet and embarked on a fantastic journey into the East China Sea. After the Eight Immortals became immortals, they did not gain divinity like some immortals, but lived a free life in the Heavenly Palace.
Why can't the Eight Immortals be officials?Immortals are different.
The immortals of Taoism are divided into the Three Qing Immortals, the Innate Immortals, and the Innate Qi Spirits, as well as the immortals created by mortals who eventually attain positive results through diligent cultivation. Unlike ordinary immortals, they do not have a special priesthood, and pay more attention to personal cultivation and realm improvement.
As far as the Eight Immortals are concerned, the image of the immortals is closer to the world, there are old and young, there are men and women, rich and poor. This colorful image of the gods makes the gods more humane and closer to ordinary people. In addition, the legendary Eight Immortals were all of mortal origin, and they worked hard to cultivate and were eventually transformed into immortals by their masters, so their images are closer to life and are examples that Taoist practitioners can follow.
The difference between gods and immortals.
In Taoism, the difference between a god and an immortal is whether or not there is a specific priesthood. Gods usually have a clear function to assist the Jade Emperor in handling the affairs of the Three Realms, while immortals pay more attention to personal cultivation and pursue personal progress. The Eight Immortals had no specific duties in the Heavenly Palace, and were more like a group of free-thinking monks living a life of paradise. Thus, the depiction of the Eight Immortals emphasizes the colorful image of the gods as close to the earthly world and similar to ordinary people.
From the perspective of immortals, the story of the Eight Immortals reflects the ideals of the ancients to transcend the world and strengthen themselves to become immortals. Gods may be more concerned about the secular world and are responsible for managing all aspects of secular affairs, while immortals are more focused on self-cultivation and transcending the limitations of the secular world. It should also be noted that the legend of the Eight Immortals contains elements that correspond to the basic concepts of Taoism.
Taoism emphasized"Nature's Way", pursuit"Inaction"。In the Tales of the Eight Immortals, their cultivation methods vary, but they all emphasize individual effort and following the laws of nature. This is in line with Taoism's emphasis on conforming to nature and following it"tract"The ideas coincide. After the ascension, the Eight Immortals lived a free and easy life in the Heavenly Palace. They do not belong to any priesthood and do not participate in worldly affairs, but live an otherworldly life, which is very much in line with the desire of Taoist practitioners to be otherworldly and to be one with the world.
The influence of the legend of the Eight Immortals.
The legend of the Eight Immortals is not only a mysterious story, but also a symbol of education, fairyland, and immortal seeking in traditional culture. These stories depict the otherworldly efforts and struggles of individuals through realistic images of immortals. In the Taoist tradition, the story of the Eight Immortals has become an ideal expression that inspires future generations to pursue perfection and transcendence.
The image of the Eight Immortals also profoundly reflects the ancient Chinese concept of immortals, secular concepts and transcendence. These images of immortals are both close to divinity and human nature, so they are more acceptable to people and more resonant with people. They also provided rich creative materials for later literary and artistic creations, and became an indispensable part of Chinese culture.
The story of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea is not only a myth and legend, but also a profound reflection on gods and immortals, worldliness and detachment in traditional Chinese culture. In the legend of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, we can see the ancients' yearning for the ideal kingdom and their exploration of cultivation, nature and Taoism. This ancient and rich legend expresses people's eternal yearning for gods throughout the ages. Other comments.