Chinese Mythology

The Folk Gods and Spirits of the Middle Kingdom

LI BABAI

Daoist Immortality God

Also known as Li Ba-Bai, Li Pa Pai, Li-K'uan, Li-Kuan

Immortal Sage with eight-hundred plum-colored boils.

No-one seems to know how this old Daoist gent became immortal, but the Eight Immortals may have had a hand in it.

He turned up one day in the state of Wu, having spent the past eight hundred years in a cave for reasons best known to himself. The locals rallied round and gave him a place to stay, where he set up his ‘Lu’. Which was a place of meditation not dissimilar to the modern variety.

Li Babai, who suffered from a strange skin condition, had a rich sponsor who wished to learn the immortality secrets from him.

“My boils must be licked away first,” says Li.

“I’ll set the servants on it,” says Mr Moneybags.

“No, you must do it yourself,” demands Li.

After it hadn’t worked, Li Babai opted to be bathed in wine from a million bottles. This really does work, but the wine must be full-bodied red with a rich plummy flavor. And then he ascended to Heaven, leaving behind his Earthly remains.

Li Babai Facts and Figures

Name: Li Babai
Pronunciation: Lee Bar Buy
Alternative names: Li Ba-Bai, Li Pa Pai, Li-K'uan, Li-Kuan

Gender: Male
Type: God
Celebration or Feast Day: Unknown at present

Role:
In charge of: Immortality
Area of expertise: Immortality

Good/Evil Rating: NEUTRAL, may not care
Popularity index: 4081

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Article last revised on April 22, 2019 by the Godchecker data dwarves.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders

References: Coming soon.

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