Discover Top Posts Tagged with #lan caihe

Popular Recent

Lan Caihe is one of the Eight Immortals in Taoist mythology, known for their gender ambiguity, eccentric behavior, and symbolic connection to music, nature, and carefree living.

Lan Caihe stands out among the Eight Immortals of Taoism not only for their mystical attributes but also for the enigmatic nature of their identity. Unlike the other immortals, Lan Caihe’s gender is ambiguous—depicted variously as male, female, or androgynous across different texts and artistic representations. This fluidity has made Lan Caihe a symbol of transcendence beyond societal norms and binaries.

Traditionally believed to have lived during the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), Lan Caihe is not considered a historical figure but rather a mythological embodiment of spontaneity and detachment. Legends describe them as a wandering street performer, often seen singing, dancing, or playing musical instruments like flutes or clappers. Their attire was famously unconventional: wearing light clothes in winter and heavy garments in summer, sometimes with only one shoe. These eccentricities were not mere quirks but expressions of a deeper Taoist principle—freedom from worldly constraints and expectations.

Lan Caihe is often depicted carrying a basket of flowers, symbolizing the fleeting beauty of life and the importance of living in harmony with nature. In some portrayals, they are shown with musical instruments, reinforcing their role as a celestial minstrel who brings joy and reflection through art. Their association with flowers and music also connects them to themes of renewal, creativity, and the ephemeral nature of existence.

In Taoist iconography, Lan Caihe’s presence among the Eight Immortals serves as a reminder that spiritual enlightenment is not bound by conventional identity or behavior. Their carefree demeanor and disregard for material wealth reflect the Taoist ideal of wu wei—effortless action and living in accordance with the Tao.

Modern interpretations of Lan Caihe often highlight their relevance to contemporary discussions on gender fluidity and nonconformity. As a mythological figure who defies categorization, Lan Caihe resonates with those who seek spiritual meaning outside traditional frameworks. Their legacy continues to inspire artists, writers, and spiritual seekers who value authenticity, spontaneity, and the celebration of life's impermanence.

#lan caihe #gender fluid #taoist #taoism #myth #mythology #folklore

Legend of the Eight Immortals (1998) 东游记

Director: Zhang Baolian Screenwriter: Lu Zhiming / Li Yanping / Huang Huanghua / Xie Junyuan Starring: Ma Jingtao / Guo Feili / / Shen Zheng Xiuzhen Xie Yiling Shaoguang / /Lin Xiangping / Wang Yuxiang / Chang Cheng Genre: Drama / Costume Country/Region of Production: Singapore Language: Mandarin Chinese Date: 1998-11-26 (Singapore) Number of episodes: 30 Single episode length: 43 minutes IMDb: tt3038763 Type: Crossover

Summary:

This costume mythological drama co-produced by Singapore and China is adapted from the ancient Chinese legend "The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" and the mythological novel "Journey to the East". The evil way to the sky breaks the curse and is reborn. According to the number of days, the eight immortals in the cave must return to their positions to resist the evil way. Donghua Shangxian (played by Ma Jingtao) was ordered to go through danger and was forced to endure the disaster to guide the Eight Immortals back to their places. After selection, Han Xiangzi (played by Chang Cheng), He Xiangu (played by Zheng Xiuzhen), Lan Caihe (played by Shen Yiling), Cao Guojiu (played by Shen Yiling), Li Haijie), Han Zhongli (Mai Haowei), Tieguai Li (Lin Yisheng) and Zhang Guolao were selected as the Eight Immortals. The Immortal Donghua was demoted to earth and became Lu Dongbin (played by Ma Jingtao), and experienced emotional entanglements with Bai Mudan and He Xiangu who were reincarnated by Fairy Peony (played by Guo Feili). The little demon Pangolin (played by Xie Shaoguang) is obsessed with He Xiangu, but he is also good and evil. Fei Changfang (played by Chang Cheng), who has not yet become Han Xiangzi, cannot forget his deceased wife Zhenniang (played by Lin Xiangping), and unexpectedly meets Princess Long San (played by Lin Xiangping). Faced with a thousand-year love catastrophe, the Eight Immortals went through many hardships, but finally returned to their positions smoothly and embarked on the road of exterminating demons and protecting the Tao.

Source: https://tv-1.chinesemov.com/tv/1998/Legend-of-the-Eight-Immortals

Link: N/A

Happy APAHM and here’s a poem comic about my experiences being trans and Chinese I did in three days for my English class!

It's pride month and time for a new headcanon for our only Chinese racer in Cars; Long Ge or Zhang Wei Long provided by @physicalyx-613 and human form by @aurora-ze-aquarius

Every June ( if there's an opening in his racing schedule), they book a trip to Taipei. They wash out the hair dye, only snowy white hair brushed and tied loosely back into a man bun tucked under a baseball cap, wearing sunglasses to hide pale blue eyes. Avoiding the usual parks, malls, and shops; there's a special place that they visit away from the cameras and fans. Tucked in an alley way from the traffic and pedestrians is a very special Taoist temple.

That temple is devoted to a very special god: Tu Er Shen, the Chinese god of homosexuality and in more recent times, the entirety of the queer spectrum and any non heterosexual love. Zhang prays with joss sticks, bowing three times before the main shrine, the name bathed in pink backlight.

Long Ge prays for securing safety and love for all couples and quietly for themself. For all the lost love that never came to be and those remaining in the closet for self-preservation. Mainland China is not exactly welcoming for people like them, censoring any mentions of the LGBTQIA+ in the media and history.

But Zhang knows better than most. They read the historical records and stories of bitten peaches, shorn sleeves, fox spirits changing forms and ribald and bawdy stories from dynasties long ago.

Some days, Zhang Wei Long is Bai Suzhen, moving heaven and earth to find her love, only to be betrayed and defeated by Fa-Hai, sealed in Leifong Pagoda. Her snowy white hair and icy blue eyes already set her apart from the majority of people. Zhang wouldn't be that surprised if she woke to pearly iridescent snake scales, fangs, forked tongue, tail, and slit pupil eyes reflected in the mirror. She's seen the pictures of leucistic snakes and wonders if Bai Suzhen ever had white hair (most depictions had the standard black hair so no dice for that). West Lake in Hangzhou was also a favorite place for Zhang-jie to visit, paying homage to the folklore.

Other days, Zhang Wei Long is Huang Jiulang from Pu Songling's "The Cut Sleeve". Those days, fox ears and tail would be a welcome if expected surprise one morning. Though the number of tails he would have is still up for debate (definitely less than nine, he humors himself). Male huli jing were plentiful in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio but were mostly into women while a few had homosexual relations. Zhang never really had a particular preference for either sex or gender and before his racing career, had relations all over the rainbow.

On other days, Lan Caihe could probably empathize with them. Artists weren't sure whether to depict them as male, female or some other for all together. Likewise in photoshoots and modelling, they could become very androgynous and portray both masculine and feminine sides. It earned them quite a number of queer fans, thanking them for showing themselves in their true light as is.

Zhang often donated to the Hall of Martial Brilliance as often as he could. They also donated to various LGBTQIA+ organizations around China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. This time, Zhang offered a bottle of Midori that Shu gifted them from a Secret Santa to the rabbit deity. Ta-ye would appreciate having new drink aside from the bottled teas and baiju.

#pixar cars #cars fandom #humanized cars #long ge #wgp racers #zhang wei long #cars 2 (2011)#tu er shen #cars headcanons #pride month #bai suzhen #thats right zhang wei long is genderfluid #also pansexual #lan caihe

genderfluid icon lan caihe

#lan caihe #chinese mythology #gender things

THE STORK represents change, movement, transformation, going from one place to another.

Lan Caihe is the most mysterious of the famous Eight Immortals of Chinese Daoist mythology. They're depicted variously as a beautiful young man or woman (perhaps both), or an old man. An eccentric beggar/busker who would sing and dance and wander around with one foot bare, they carried a basket of flowers (also sometimes a hoe, a flute, and castanets) and let other beggars pick up all the coins they earned. Lan Caihe also enjoyed their alcohol. They got super drunk one day and rode a stork up to heaven, thus departing the earthly realm forever. Moral of the story: You can do anything really when you're an immortal ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ #inktober #inktober2017 #lenormand

#inktober #inktober2017 #lenormand #fude de mannen #ink #inking #lan caihe #stork #birds #art by Maiji/Mary Huang

Happily Ever After (2007) 凡间新仙人

Director: He Faming Screenwriter: Xu Liwen / Peng Kaiyi / Lin Jinlan / Sun Yiqun Starring: Huang Junxiong / Bai Weixiu / Chen Liping Genre: Drama / Fantasy Country/Region of Production: Singapore Language: Mandarin Chinese Number of episodes: 20 Single episode length: 45 minutes Also known as: Happily Ever After IMDb: tt12404462 Type: Crossover

Summary:

Every July 7th, Niulang and Zhinu meet on the Qixi Festival... Time flies, and now it is two thousand years later. One day, the magpie offered a plan to instigate Niulang and Zhinu to elope. When Niulang and Zhinu elope, they are caught by the gods and demoted to the human world as mortals. ... Wang Tianqin and Yang Tianying always meet unexpectedly on the seventh day of the seventh month every year, but they can't meet. Mrs. Wang always tries to make them meet, but Yang Jian tries his best to destroy it. It seems that this is the wonderful fate between Wang Tianqin and Yang Tianying, and also the struggle between Mrs. Wang and Yang Jian... Many gods in heaven learn from Niulang and Zhinu to elope.

Wang Tianqin/Zhinu (played by Bai Weixiu) grew up in a well-off family. Her parents died accidentally when she was five years old. A wealthy woman who calls herself Madam Wang (played by Chen Liping) adopted Wang Tianqin. Since then, Wang Tianqin has grown up in a good environment. Yang Tianying/Niulang (played by Huang Junxiong) was not so lucky. He was abandoned in a garbage chute by a cruel unmarried mother when he was born. Later, he was sent to an orphanage and then sponsored by Yang Jian (played by Yao Wenlong), starting his rough childhood.

Chang'e (played by Xie Wanyu) and Zhu Bajie (played by Yang Zhilong) failed to elope and were finally demoted to the mortal world. This "elopement trend" caused dissatisfaction among the gods. At this time, the gods led by Erlang Shen, Yang Jian demanded that the position of the Jade Emperor be selected by the selection system and not be re-elected. The Jade Emperor wanted to abdicate and leave, but the Queen Mother did not allow it. She also made a bet with Yang Jian that if the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl could love each other in the mortal world, the two could return to the Heavenly Palace and restore the original order of the Heavenly Palace; if not, the Jade Emperor had to abdicate. Yang Jian agreed, and from then on the Heavenly Palace was divided into two major factions. Yang Jian went down to the mortal world to help raise the Cowherd/Yang Tianying, and the Queen Mother was responsible for adopting the Weaver Girl/Wang Tianqin. The war between the Queen Mother and Yang Jian began...

On the other hand, Wu Gang (played by Zhang Yaodong), who had secretly loved Chang'e for a thousand years, was very anxious when he saw Chang'e being demoted to the mortal world. At the same time, the magpie confessed that Wu Gang was the god who instigated the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl to elope. Wu Gang violated the heavenly rules, and the Queen Mother wanted Wu Gang to become her "agent" in order to protect the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. Wu Gang agreed to this task in order to meet Chang'e in the mortal world. The Chang'e who was demoted to the mortal world was named Lu Yue, and everyone called her Ah Moon. She was poor since childhood and was determined to become rich or marry a rich man. Ah Moon often did whatever it took to achieve her goals.

Zhu Bajie came to the mortal world and became the son of a wealthy man, "Mr. Zhu" Zhu Wanjin, a veritable dandy. In addition to having a mutually beneficial relationship with Ah Moon, he fell in love with Tianqin, which destroyed the relationship between Tianying and Tianqin, and indirectly became a member of Yang Jian's faction... Later, Wang Tianqin and Yang Tianying finally met, and the two remembered the past and were "reunited" sweetly. Unfortunately, the two had different personalities, backgrounds, and ideas, and could not live together well. The two always had conflicts, and Chang'e, Zhu Bajie, Yang Jian and others continued to sabotage, making the process even more difficult...

Source: https://tv-1.chinesemov.com/tv/2007/Happily-Ever-After

Link: N/A