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According to the various stories about him, he was a sorcerer who lived in the Zhongtiao
Mountains during the Tang Dynasty, about 1300 years ago. He was repeatedly asked to
serve as a high official, but was viewed by many as a fraud. Zhang Guolao claimed to have
been born over 4000 years ago. He finally agreed to serve Emperor Xuanzong (685 -762 A.
D.), but when the emperor saw him, he thought Zhang Guolao looked far too old to be an
immortal. Zhang Guolao promptly knocked out his teeth, and pulled out his hair, causing the
emperor considerable distress. After resting for a while, Zhang Guolao returned with white
teeth, black hair, and looked no more than fifty.
There are many other tales of tricks he played on Emperor Xuanzong, but despite offers of
marriage and high salaries, Zhang Guolao had to leave the palace before he was found out
as a fraud. Feigning old age and ill health, he excused himself from court, and when the
Emperor sent for him again, he pretended to be dead, and had his disciples bury his body.
When the emperor’s envoy opened the coffin, it was found to be empty, and people believed
this was proof he had attained immortality.
Mountains during the Tang Dynasty, about 1300 years ago. He was repeatedly asked to
serve as a high official, but was viewed by many as a fraud. Zhang Guolao claimed to have
been born over 4000 years ago. He finally agreed to serve Emperor Xuanzong (685 -762 A.
D.), but when the emperor saw him, he thought Zhang Guolao looked far too old to be an
immortal. Zhang Guolao promptly knocked out his teeth, and pulled out his hair, causing the
emperor considerable distress. After resting for a while, Zhang Guolao returned with white
teeth, black hair, and looked no more than fifty.
There are many other tales of tricks he played on Emperor Xuanzong, but despite offers of
marriage and high salaries, Zhang Guolao had to leave the palace before he was found out
as a fraud. Feigning old age and ill health, he excused himself from court, and when the
Emperor sent for him again, he pretended to be dead, and had his disciples bury his body.
When the emperor’s envoy opened the coffin, it was found to be empty, and people believed
this was proof he had attained immortality.
| All website contents are copyright of Flying Empress Kites Ltd., 2005 |
| Zhāng Guŏlăo (Venerable Zhang Guo) |
Zhang Guolao possessed the most magical powers of the
Eight Immortals, and is linked to a historical figure of the
Tang Dynasty (618 to 907 A.D.) who did indeed follow
Daoism. He is depicted as an old man, hence the suffix ‘lao’
meaning old and respected, and rides a white donkey
capable of covering thousands of kilometers in a single day.
When they stopped to rest, Zhang Guolao would fold the
donkey up like a piece of paper and put it in a box. By
spraying it with water from his mouth, he could turn it back
into a real donkey.
Eight Immortals, and is linked to a historical figure of the
Tang Dynasty (618 to 907 A.D.) who did indeed follow
Daoism. He is depicted as an old man, hence the suffix ‘lao’
meaning old and respected, and rides a white donkey
capable of covering thousands of kilometers in a single day.
When they stopped to rest, Zhang Guolao would fold the
donkey up like a piece of paper and put it in a box. By
spraying it with water from his mouth, he could turn it back
into a real donkey.
| Flying Empress Kites Ltd |