The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea
Placed on the Beam
at the middle upper part of a wall
The theme, “The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea,” which is a symbol of blessing and more important good things that make people very happy in their life, and for example, it may be used to celebrate an elder’s birthday, meaning that the eight Immortals will come to an elder’s home from a far land to bless her or him on her or his birthday. So, this theme can be usually seen on the decorations for a few temples.
In this work, we find Zhong Li-quan and He Xian-gu mount the clouds and ride the mist; Han Xiang-zi and Cao Guo-jiu both stand on a catfish together with one playing the flute and the other singing the melody; Zhang Guo-lao rides on a fish and Li Tie-guai stands on a green turtle; Lyu Dong-bin stands on a raft with a spirit of willow steering the helm; Lan Cai-he not only stands on a green turtle but also rides on a golden toad. This kind of scene of “The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea” is rarely seen.
It is supposed that Ye Wang, the architect for Zhenxing Temple in Jiali, Tainan, tried to extend the advantage that “The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea” had brought him or present each Immortal’s features by building this work.
Craftsman: Lin Guang-yi. He represents the work that Ye Wang had made for Zhenxing Temple in Jiali, Tainan.
The theme, “The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea,” which is a symbol of blessing and more important good things that make people very happy in their life, and for example, it may be used to celebrate an elder’s birthday, meaning that the eight Immortals will come to an elder’s home from a far land to bless her or him on her or his birthday. So, this theme can be usually seen on the decorations for a few temples.
In this work, we find Zhong Li-quan and He Xian-gu mount the clouds and ride the mist; Han Xiang-zi and Cao Guo-jiu both stand on a catfish together with one playing the flute and the other singing the melody; Zhang Guo-lao rides on a fish and Li Tie-guai stands on a green turtle; Lyu Dong-bin stands on a raft with a spirit of willow steering the helm; Lan Cai-he not only stands on a green turtle but also rides on a golden toad. This kind of scene of “The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea” is rarely seen.
It is supposed that Ye Wang, the architect for Zhenxing Temple in Jiali, Tainan, tried to extend the advantage that “The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea” had brought him or present each Immortal’s features by building this work.
Craftsman: Lin Guang-yi. He represents the work that Ye Wang had made for Zhenxing Temple in Jiali, Tainan.