Lan Caihe

Lan Caihe () is a Chinese mythological figure, and one of the Eight Immortals in the Taoist pantheon. Lan's presence in this group makes Lan one of the more familiar of the hundreds of other Taoist immortals. Lan Caihe is the only one of the Eight Immortals whose gender is ambiguous. which was a reference to the genre of music that Lan performed, "stomping songs," which are described further below.

Sometimes Lan Caihe's personal name is said to have been Mu Dan Xian Nu a man, a man who looks like a woman, The Kai yü ts'ung k'ao holds the view that Lan was male, and having him dress as a woman in contemporary plays was a "highly ridiculous" error. This could explain why Lan Caihe is sometimes seen as a woman or otherwise.

Appearance

thumb|right|155px|One type of clapper is used in Chinese music. Lan Caihe is sometimes pictured holding clappers similar to these.

As an immortal, Lan's apparent physical age is uncertain, and varies from one depiction to the next. Depictions most often show Lan as a young person of about sixteen,

Lan Caihe is a wandering musician. Lan's clappers were three chi long (about 72 centimeters; the length of a chi varies from one time period to the next). Others of the Eight Immortals also carry castanets, including Cao Guojiu, Because of this, sometimes archaeologists dispute which of these immortals is being represented by a figure identified only by its holding castanets. Sometimes Lan carries the basket in hand, and other times, slung on a hoe over the shoulder. sprigs of bamboo

Lan's flower basket must be distinguished from the giant lotus flower typically carried by one of the other Eight Immortals, He Xiangu. He Xiangu sometimes carries a giant ladle with its bowl full of flowers, looking similar to a flower basket. Sometimes Lan Caihe wears gender-ambiguous clothing. The gown was fastened with six black wooden buttons, It's possible that imagery of these two unrelated figures came to be conflated in art. In Lan's case, the one bare foot may represent freeing the soul, as well as disregard for convention. Scholars generally don't believe that Lan Caihe is based on an actual historical person. However, one view is that this immortal may have been based on an actor whose stage name was Lan Caihe, and otherwise went by Xu Jian, during the Five Dynasties period (907–960 CE).

Lan Caihe is said to have lived sometime during the Tang dynasty (618 to 907 CE), Other traditions say Lan lived later, during the Five Dynasties period. talked about immortality

Another song attributed to Lan Caihe in the T'ai p'ing kuang chi refers to the swift passing of generations:

Lan's performed in a traditional Chinese music style called stomping songs (). The genre first appeared in the Tang dynasty, and the form practiced by Lan first appeared in the Northern Sung: performed alone, singing and dancing at the same time, using certain types of tunes and patterns, while stomping the foot on the beat of the music, accompanied with a clapper. All classes and parts of the society performed in this style. Paradoxical undressing is sometimes seen in street people who die of exposure. This part of the story may also represent Lan's mastery over the body, similar to feats performed by other Taoist immortals.

Lan roamed all over China for decades. Elderly people noticed that Lan's face hadn't aged since they had seen Lan during their childhoods. This view is expressed in the 20th verse of the Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Way), which says that in contrast with sharp-witted and determined people, a wanderer seems to be confused and drifting, but is directly mothered by the Tao (the Way). In other words, by not intentionally setting out to do things, a wanderer makes it possible for the Way to lead them to where they need to be.

Attaining immortality

Stories vary about how Lan Caihe attained immortality, some of which follow.

In one legend, Lan Caihe became drunk at an inn at Fêng-yang Fu in Anhui. While intoxicated, Lan Caihe threw down to earth their robe, belt, clappers, and their only shoe. Then Lan Caihe rode a cloud up to Heaven. Li rewarded Lan's kindness by granting Lan immortality.

Life as an immortal

thumb|The Eight Immortals crossing the sea in a raft. Lan Caihe is the childlike person in the middle, wearing a collar of leaves, and looking into a basket of fruit or [[Mantou|dumplings.]]

In The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea

In a story written by an anonymous author during the Ming dynasty (c. 14th–15th centuries), , the Eight Immortals chose to all test their talents by riding across an ocean, not upon clouds as they all usually did, but by each placing their personal emblem upon the surface of the sea, and standing upon them to ride across the sea. (This is the origin of the proverb . This saying indicates a situation where everybody shows off their skills and expertise to achieve a common goal.) Lan Caihe rode across the sea upon their musical instrument, the jade clappers. During this, the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea spied and envied the clappers. The Dragon King stole the instrument and imprisoned its owner. This started a war between the Eight Immortals and the dragons. Eventually the Eight Immortals rescued Lan and the clappers, and defeated the dragons by pushing a mountain into the sea, which ruined the dragons' undersea palace, and killed many. Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of mercy, showed up to bring peace. As part of the compromise, Guanyin gave the clappers to the dragons, to make up for their fatalities.

In The Legend of the Shipwrecked Servant

In one scene in "The Legend of the Shipwrecked Servant," the Eight Immortals walked on water to visit a god who lived across the sea. Lan Caihe was the one who noticed that the Immortals' mortal servant couldn't follow them that way, and asked another immortal to build a raft for the servant. Lan doesn't figure importantly in the rest of the story.

Religious role

Lan Caihe doesn't receive attention outside of Lan's presence in the group of the Eight Immortals.

According to the Shih wu yüan hui, quoted in the 19th century compilation Chi shuo ch'üan chén, the Eight Immortals represent dualities of characteristics: old and young, male and female, rich and poor, honored and humble, warriors and scholars, noble and disabled. Of these, says the Shih wu yüan hui, Lan is supposed to represent the young.

Because of carrying a basket of flowers, this immortal is the patron of florists Because of Lan's career as a street musician, Lan is also the patron of minstrels, though being a patron of musicians is usually attributed to a different one of the Eight Immortals, such as Han Xiangzi, the flutist.

In traditional art and literature

In poetry by Yuan Yishan

Yuan Yishan () (1190–1257 CE) was a poet whose hao was Hao Wên. In his collected works and biography, yi shan xian sheng wen ji (), Yuan mentions Lan Caihe in some of his poems.

In popular culture

Television and movies

The Eight Immortals, including Lan Caihe, often appear in television and movies, including the ones listed below. In some of these, Lan Caihe is played by a male actor, and in others, by an actress. This shows that presently Lan Caihe's gender is popularly seen as ambiguous.

1976 Mainland version of the opera film Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea (). Hao Ruiting plays Lan Caihe.
1983 Shaw Brothers Movie Of Ghosts Galore In Role Of Chin Siu-Ho In Transformation Of A Taoist Priest (Lo Lieh) In A Final Scene.
1985 Hong Kong version of the ATV TV series Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea (). Dion Lam () plays Lan Caihe.
1985 Hong Kong version of TVB TV series The Yang's Saga (). Katie Chan Fook-Sang () as Lan Caihe
1985 Mainland version of the movie The Legend of the Eight Immortals (). Yang Jianzhong () as Lan Caihe
1993 Hong Kong version of the movie The Laughing Eight Immortals (). Sandra Ng () as Lan Caihe
1996 Hong Kong version of TVB TV series Journey to the West (). Mak Ka Lun () plays Lan Caihe
1998 Singapore version of the TV series Legend of the Eight Immortals (). Deborah Sim as Lan Caihe. In this story, Lan is called the Barefoot Immortal (the Barefoot Immortal is normally a different Taoist immortal from Lan), and achieved immortality with help from Sun Wukong, the monkey king.
1998 Hong Kong version of TVB TV series Journey to the West II (). Mak Ka Lun () as Lan Caihe
1998 Taiwan TV Series Li Tieguai (). Chien Chia-Ling () as Lan Caihe
2000 to 2005. In the animated fantasy television show Jackie Chan Adventures, which is loosely inspired by Chinese mythology, Lan Caihe was the Immortal who sealed away a villain, Dai Gui, The Earth Demon, by striking him with a flower. In this story, this immortal was portrayed as a bald older man, wearing black and purple robes.
2002 Mainland Chinese TV series The Story of the Laughing Eight Immortals (). Huang Bin () as Lan Caihe
2006 Mainland Chinese TV series Eight Immortals (). Tso Shiao-Hu () plays Lan Caihe
2008 Mainland Chinese TV Series Eight Immortals (). Nikita Mao () plays Lan Caihe
2011 Mainland Chinese TV series Lotus Goddess (). Wan Changhao () plays Lan Caihe
2014 mainland version of the TV series A Legend of Chinese Immortal (). Zheng Yecheng () as Lan Caihe
2014 Mainland TV series The Eight Fairies (). Zhao Xiaosu () plays Lan Caihe.
2016 Mainland TV series Xianban Campus (). Gao Jicai () plays Lan Caihe
The 2018 mainland TV series Little Bone: Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea (). Liu Shijie () as Lan Caihe

Images

The Eight Immortals have always been a very familiar and popular motif in art in China, as well as in Japan and Vietnam. Lan Caihe usually appears together with them, distinguished by the emblem of the flower basket.

As an androgynous young person

In these pictures, Lan's appearance is neither distinctly masculine nor feminine.

File:Lan Caihe.jpg|A woodblock print of Lan Caihe, as a young person wearing long robes and carrying a flower basket. Originally printed in the Huan Chu version of the Liexian Zhuan, c. 1206–1368 CE; reproduced 1916 CE.

File:Chinese Figure of Lan Caihe, Qing Dynasty, Daoguang Period, 1821-1850, jadeite - Huntington Museum of Art - DSC05256.JPG|A jadeite figurine of Lan Caihe as a young adult wearing long robes and carrying a basket of fruit. Qing dynasty, Daoguang Period, 1821–1850 CE.

File:Neujahrslampen China 01 EthnM.jpg|A group of New Year's lamps representing the Eight Immortals. Lan Caihe is on the farthest right, as a young person wearing a pink tunic trousers, and carrying a basket of fruit. Qing Dynasty, 19th century.

File:Wing Luke Museum - Eight Immortals 01A.jpg|A plaque showing the Eight Immortals. Lan Caihe is second from the left, as a child wearing a blue tunic, pink trousers, white or yellow sash, and carrying a basket of flowers. nd.

File:Baxian.png|An illustration of the Eight Immortals. Lan Caihe is on the far right, as a young person in pale clothing, holding a flower basket. nd.

File:EightCelestials.jpg|The statue of eight Immortals of Chinese myth in Penglai, Shandong. Lan Caihe is in the middle, holding a large bouquet of roses. nd.

File:Eight Immortals, figurines - Sichuan University Museum - Chengdu, China - DSC06171.jpg|A set of figurines of the Eight Immortals, in the Sichuan University Museum. Lan Caihe is second from the left, holding up a basket of flowers. nd.

File:Hue-EightImmortals.JPG|A relief of the Eight Immortals at a temple in Hue, Vietnam. Lan Caihe is in the middle, as a young person wearing pink robes, holding up a basket of flowers. nd.

File:Rhinoceros horn cup with Daoist immortals, Metropolitan Museum of Art.JPG|A rhinoceros horn cup showing the Eight Immortals, Qing dynasty, late 18th-19th century, Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lan Caihe is on the left, holding a basket of flowers.

File:The eight immortals.jpg|A needlepoint of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea. Lan Caihe is the standing figure second from the right, carrying a flower basket slung on a hoe.

File:Tianjin Haihe Huit Immortels.JPG|Statue of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, in Tianjin, China. Lan Caihe is third from the right, holding a flower basket. 2008.

File:Wucheng-cun-P1210739.JPG|A plaque of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, decorating a house in Zhejiang, China. Lan Caihe is third from the left, riding a giant flower basket, instead of riding clappers as in the story.

File:八仙过海.jpg|A mural in Sichuan of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea. Lan Caihe is second from the right, in gold, holding a flower basket.

File:Chinese - The Eight Immortals - Walters 3535.jpg|A painting of the Eight Immortals. There are ten figures in this painting. Lan Caihe is the middle figure in the bottom register with a clapper in his hands.

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As a man

Some pictures showing masculine characteristics.

File:Album of 18 Daoist Paintings - 16.jpg|Zhang Lu's painting of Lan Caihe, as a bearded man riding a turtle, a symbol of longevity. Many Taoist immortals are shown riding turtles. Early 16th century.

File:MET 33 89.jpg|A screen painted by Hasegawa Tōchō, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showing a few of the Eight Immortals. Lan is second from the right, with a mustache and disheveled hair. Lan wears tattered robes, and carries a flower basket in one hand, and a hoe in the other. 17th century.

File:Zhu Wenxin - The Eight Immortals - Walters 3570 - Detail.jpg|A painting by Zhu Wenxin, of the Eight Immortals. Lan Caihe is at the top, as a smiling, balding man holding up a flower basket. 1813 CE.