Lan Caihe
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Lan Caihe (藍采和; pinyin: Lán Cǎihé; Wade-Giles: Lan Ts'ai-ho) is the least defined of the Eight Immortals. Lan Caihe's age and sex are unknown. Lan is usually depicted in sexually ambiguous clothing, but is often shown as a young boy or girl carrying a bamboo flower basket.[1]
Stories of Lan's behaviour are often bizarrely eccentric. Some sources dress Lan Caihe in a ragged blue gown, and refer to him as the patron immortal of minstrels. In another tradition, Lan is a female singer whose song lyrics accurately predict future events.[2]
He is often described as carrying a pair of bamboo castanets which he would clap and make a beat with by hitting the ground, he would then sing to this beat and a group of onlookers would follow and watch in amazement and entertain themselves. After these performances they would give him lots of money as he was beggar, Lan Cai He would then string this cash and coins on a long string of money he carried. As he walked the coins would fall off and Lan Cai He would not care, other beggars would then take the money.
He is often described as wearing only one shoe and other foot being bare, in the Winter it was said he slept naked in the snow and it melted and in the Summer it was said he stuffed his clothes full and wore thick clothes despite the heat.
Like all the other immortals he was often said to be in a drunken stupor and he left this world by flying on a heavenly swan or crane into heaven. One day while in a tavern, he had supposedly gotten up to go to the bathroom. But before leaving he flew off on the crane or swan and stripped his clothes on the way up.
He is sometimes said to be a Transvestite or Transsexual.
Sometimes shown as a young boy or woman. [1][2]
[edit] References
- ^ Eberhard, Wolfram (1986). A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols: Hidden Symbols in Chinese Life and Thought. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London. ISBN 0415002281.
- ^ Eberhard, Wolfram (1986). A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols: Hidden Symbols in Chinese Life and Thought. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London. ISBN 0415002281.
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