Chinese Mythology

The Folk Gods and Spirits of the Middle Kingdom

LU DONGBIN

Daoist Education God

Also known as Long Dong-Bin, Lu Dongbin, Lü Tung-Pin, Lü-Yan

Picture of the Chinese Education God Lu Dongbin from our Chinese mythology image library. Illustration by Chas Saunders.

The scholarly second-in-command of the Eight Immortals

“Show me the Way... to the pub.” He went from nerdy student to highly-exalted member of the Eight Immortals.

Lu Dongbin was of princely descent. In his privileged student days, he’d been given a magic sword by a passing dragon. With his background and this magic benediction he should have been riding high on the crest of a wave.

But one day, after falling asleep in an inn, he dreamt of his future life. It quickly became a nightmare. Things were going from bad to worse — and eventually he was killed by bandits.

To escape this fate, he decided to adopt the Way (Dao) of Daoist faith, and became a buddy of Zhongli Quan, who was already treading that path.

Not only did Lu Dongbin escape the bandits, but he became immortal. Zhongli Quan must have given him a nip of that Immortality Elixir. As a high-ranking member of the Ba Xian Eight Immortals Forever Club, he participated in many thrilling adventures. He also became the esteemed patron deity of scholars to help them write it all down. Moral: choose your drinking partners wisely.

Lu Dongbin Facts and Figures

Name: Lu Dongbin
Pronunciation: Loo Dorng Been
Alternative names: Long Dong-Bin, Lu Dongbin, Lü Tung-Pin, Lü-Yan

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

Role:
In charge of: Education
Area of expertise: Education

Good/Evil Rating: NEUTRAL, may not care
Popularity index: 6728

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Article last revised on April 22, 2019 by Rowan Allen.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders

References: Coming soon.

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