Zhang Guolao

{{Short description|One of the Eight Taoist Immortals}} {{about-distinguish-text|one of the Eight Immortals, Zhang Guolao|a god named [[Zhang Xian (deity){{!}}Zhang Xian]], with the second character meaning immortal}} {{family name hatnote|[[Zhang (surname)|Zhang]]|lang=Chinese}} {{infobox Chinese |title='''Zhang Guolao'''<br />張果老 |pic=Album of 18 Daoist Paintings - 17.jpg |piccap=[[Zhang Lu (painter)|Zhang Lu]]'s painting of Zhang Guolao, early 16th century |picsize=350px |t=張果老 |s=张果老 |p=Zhāng Guǒlǎo |w=Chang Kuo-lao |j=Zoeng1 Gwo2 Lou5 |y=Jēung Gwó Lóuh |l=Old Zhang Guo |kanji=張果  |vie=Trương Quả Lão}} [[File:Elder.Zhang.Guo.decanting.a.horse.detail.of.painting.working.print.jpg|thumb|upright|''Zhang Guo Lao'' "decanting" his horse; Japanese painting, late 19th - early 20th century]]

'''Zhang Guo''', better known as '''Zhang Guolao''', is a [[Chinese mythology|Chinese mythological]] figure and one of the [[Eight Immortals]] in the [[Taoism|Taoist]] pantheon. Among the Eight Immortals, Zhang Guolao, [[Zhongli Quan]] and [[Lü Dongbin|Lü Yan]] are the only ones who appear in historical records as genuine figures in society at specific times and places.{{Contradict-inline|date=September 2022|reason=This line first says he's a mythological figure then says he's not}} His existence is said to have begun around the middle or end of the 7th century, and ended approximately in the middle of the 8th. The epithet "Lao" added at the end of his name means "old".{{sfn|Werner|1922|pp=288, 294-295}}

==Life== Zhang was a Taoist ''[[fangshi]]'' (translated as "occultist-alchemist") who lived as a hermit on Zhongtiao Mountain ({{lang|zh|中條山}}; southeast of present-day [[Yongji, Shanxi|Yongji]], [[Shanxi]]) in [[Heng Prefecture (Hebei)|Heng Prefecture]] during the [[Tang dynasty]]. By the time [[Wu Zetian]] came to power, he claimed to be several hundred years old. A strong believer in the magic of [[necromancy]], he also declared that he was a Grand Minister to the mythical [[Emperor Yao]] in his [[Reincarnation|previous life]].{{sfn|Werner|1922|p=294}} Zhang also had a love for wine and winemaking. He was known to make liquor from herbs and shrubs as a hobby. Other members of the Eight Immortals drank his wine, which they believed to have healing or medicinal properties. He was also known to be a master of ''[[qigong]]'' and could go without food for days, surviving on only a few sips of wine.{{sfn|Yetts|1916|p=786}}

Zhang was the most eccentric of the Eight Immortals, seen clearly in the style of [[Chinese martial arts]] dedicated to his memory. The style includes moves such as delivering a kick during a backflip or bending so far back that your shoulders touch the ground. He was known to be quite entertaining, often making himself invisible, drinking water from the petals of poisonous flowers, snatching birds in flight from the sky, as well as wilting flowers simply by pointing in their direction.{{sfn|Werner|1922|p=294}}

==Depiction in art and culture== [[Image:Zhang Guo Lao.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A [[woodcut]] of ''Zhang Guo'', carrying a [[fish-drum]].]]

Zhang appears frequently in Chinese paintings and sculpture, either with the Eight Immortals or alone, and, like the other immortals, can be seen in many different common artistic mediums and everyday objects. He is typically shown riding his white donkey, usually seated facing backwards. His emblem is a [[fish drum]],{{snf|Williams|1974|pp=151-153}} which is a tube-shaped bamboo drum with two iron rods or mallets that he carries with him,{{sfn|Giles|1948|p=123}}<ref name=":1002">{{Cite book |title=World Religions: Eastern Traditions |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |editor=Willard Gurdon Oxtoby |year=2002 |isbn=0-19-541521-3 |edition=2nd |location=Don Mills, Ontario |page=401 |oclc=46661540}}</ref> or carrying a phoenix feather or a peach, representing immortality.{{sfn|Werner|1922|p=296}} Since he represents old age, in the Taoist ''[[fengshui]]'' tradition, a picture or statue of him can be placed in the home or bedroom of an elderly person to help bring them a long life and a good, natural death.{{sfn|Too|2004|p=214}} A picture of him on his mule offering a descendant to a newly wed couple can also be found in Taoist nuptial chapels.{{sfn|Werner|1922|p=296}}

==Legends== Zhang was known for wandering between the [[Fen River]] and [[Guanzhong|Qin territories]] during his lifetime and was known to travel at least a thousand ''[[Li (unit)|li]]'' per day on a white donkey or mule.{{sfn|Werner|1922|p=294}} When his journey was finished, he folded his mule up and placed it in his pocket or a small box.{{sfn|Maspero|1981|p=162}} When he wished to use the mule again, he poured water on it from his mouth and the mule regained its form.{{sfn|Werner|1922|p=294}}

The [[Tang dynasty]] emperors [[Emperor Taizong of Tang|Taizong]] and [[Emperor Gaozong of Tang|Gaozong]] often invited Zhang to their imperial courts, but he always declined these invitations. Once, when asked by [[Wu Zetian]], he finally agreed to leave his hermitage. As he reached the gate of the Temple of the Jealous Woman, he died suddenly. His body was seen decomposing and being consumed by worms, but he was later seen, alive and well, on Zhongtiao Mountain in Hengzhou.{{sfn|Werner|1922|p=294}}

In 735, during the reign of [[Emperor Xuanzong of Tang|Emperor Xuanzong]] of the Tang dynasty, Zhang was called to [[Luoyang]], where he was elected as the chief of the Imperial Academy, with the honorable title "Very Perspicacious Teacher." At this time, the Taoist [[Ye Fashan]] was highly favoured in the imperial court, thanks to his skill in necromancy. When asked who Zhang Guolao was, Ye replied, "I know, but if I were to tell your Majesty, I should fall dead at your feet, so I dare not speak unless your Majesty will promise that you will go barefooted and bareheaded to ask Zhang to forgive you, in which case I should immediately revive."

Having been promised by Emperor Xuanzong, Ye Fashan then said: "Zhang Guolao is a white spiritual bat which came out of primeval chaos." Zhang was believed by some to be able to transform himself into a bat, another symbol of permanence. After giving this information, Ye immediately dropped dead at the emperor's feet. Emperor Xuanzong, with bald head and feet, went to Zhang as he had promised. After the emperor begged Zhang for forgiveness for his indiscretion, Zhang then sprinkled water on Ye's face, and he revived. Soon after, between 742 and 746, Zhang fell ill and returned to die on Zhongtiao Mountain in Hengzhou. When his apprentices opened his tomb, they found it empty.{{sfn|Werner|1922|p=294}}

==Modern depiction== In the television show [[Jackie Chan Adventures]], Zhang Guolao is the Immortal who sealed away [[List of Jackie Chan Adventures characters#Po Kong|Po Kong, The Mountain Demon]]. He is depicted as a white-haired old man with a long, flowing beard and a topknot.

==See also== {{commons category|Zhang Guo Lao}} *[[Chinese alcoholic beverages]]

==References== ===Citations=== {{reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography=== * {{cite book |last=Giles |first=Lionel |title=A Gallery of Chinese Immortals |editor-first=J.L. |editor-last=Cranmer Byng |location=London |publisher=J. Murray |year=1948 }} * {{cite book |last=Maspero |first=Henry |title=Taoism and Chinese Religion |url=https://archive.org/details/taoismchineserel00henr |url-access=registration |location=Amherst |publisher=The University of Massachusetts Press |year=1981 |isbn=978-0-87023-308-1 }} * {{cite book |last=Too |first=Lillian |title=Total Feng Shui: Bring Health, Wellness and Happiness Into Your Life |publisher=Chronicle Books |year=2004 }} * {{cite book |last=Werner |first=Edward T. C. |title=Myths and Legends of China |location=London |publisher=George G. Harrap & Co |year=1922 |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/15250/15250-h/15250-h.htm |via=Project Gutenberg}} ** Reprinted as {{cite book |last=Werner |first=Edward T. C. |title=Ancient Tales and Folklore of China |location=London |publisher=Bracken Books |year=1986 }} * {{cite book |last=Williams |first=C. A. S. |title=Outlines of Chinese Symbolism and Art Motives |url=https://archive.org/details/outlinesofchines00will |url-access=registration |location=Rutland, VT |publisher=Tuttle |year=1974 |isbn=978-0-8048-1127-9 }} * {{cite journal |last=Yetts |first=W. Percival |title=The Eight Immortals |journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland |location=London |year=1916 |volume=48 |issue=4 |pages=773–807 |doi=10.1017/S0035869X00049704 |s2cid=161857251 }}

[[Category:Health gods]] [[Category:Magic gods]] [[Category:Eight Immortals]] [[Category:Taoist immortals]] [[Category:Chinese gods]]