Page 213 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book

A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols 206
Lü Dong-bin

Lü is one of the eight Immortals: his symbol is the sword with which he slays
demons. He takes pride of place among the eight, and a wealth of legend has gathered
round him. He is said to have lived in the Tang period: but other tales place him as late as
the Song Dynasty. Two popular romances tell how he had to prove his power in ten
ordeals. The best-known of these relates how one day he was drinking in a wine-shop and
showed no signs of paying. Finally, instead of paying, he painted two dancing cranes
on the wall of the inn. These became so famous that mine host attracted far more
customers and cashed in. When the debt was paid, however, the cranes detached
themselves from the wall and flew away.
A similar story tells how he turned an ordinary well into one that produced wine for a
certain time. On another occasion while the innkeeper is warming the wine, Lü causes the
friend he is drinking with to live through his entire life in a dream (‘The Yellow Millet
Dream’).

Lü Dong-bin with the sword