Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea

The Eight Immortals are a group of legendary Daoist figures: Lu Dongbin, He Xiangu, Cao Guojiu, Li Tieguai, Han Xiangzi, Zhang Guolao, Zhongli Quan, and Lan Caihe. Each immortal is associated with a distinctive attribute and magical object, such as Li Tieguai's iron crutch and He Xiangu's lotus flower.

In the story, the Eight Immortals must cross the sea and each decides to use their own unique magical power or talisman rather than ride a boat together. The episode showcases each immortal's individual abilities and has become one of the most frequently depicted scenes in Chinese art, porcelain, and literature.

The proverb 'Eight Immortals cross the sea, each reveals their divine power' (八仙过海，各显神通) is widely used in Chinese to describe a situation where each person in a group uses their own unique skills or methods to accomplish a shared goal. It remains a common expression in everyday Chinese speech and writing.

The story draws on Daoist traditions and was popularized through vernacular Chinese literature during the Ming Dynasty. It appears in works such as 'Journey to the East' (八仙出处东游记), a novel that compiled and expanded the individual legends of the Eight Immortals into a connected narrative.