EIGHT-IMMORTALS

Also known as BA-XIAN, PA-HSIEN

The accidental immortals

These are a band of Chinese individuals who, by pure chance, achieved immortality via a bizarre set of events.

CAO-GUOJIU — Royal Outcast
HAN-XIANGZI — The Flying Philosopher
HE-XIANGU — Self-raising Flower
LAN-CAIHE — Drunk and Disorientated
LI-TIEGUAI — Body Snatcher
LU-DONGBIN — Tactical Withdrawal
ZHANG-GUOLAO — Stubborn Old Mule
ZHONGLI-QUAN — Explosive Revelations

See their individual entries for the thrilling details of How To Become Immortal.

Each of them represents a different aspect of DAOist perfection. Over the centuries, these characters formed a team of kindred souls. Not having the usual Godly pedigree, they couldn't just mix with the Gods in Heaven, who are notoriously snobbish about such things. So instead they set up home at PENGLAI-SHAN, a mountainous island located in the mysterious East.

As told in many famous DAOist legends, they embarked on many incredible adventures and quests — taking on dragons and demons, righting wrongs and putting things to rights. And every so often, a mortal such as HUAI-NANZU or LI-BABAI would come along for the ride, hoping for a swig from the Bottle of Immortality.

We can't wait for the television mini-series. But we may have to as no-one has yet given us the cash to write it. Producers and showrunners get in touch.