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| Chinese God of Longevity (Shouxing) |
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Shouxing, the Chinese God of longevity, is depicted as a venerable
white-bearded man, with a very high forehead. He rides a crane and
holds a peach; both are symbols of a long life.
In this scroll, Shouxing is situated in the middle of the eight
Chinese immortals, legendary beings in Daoist beliefs, said to
have attained immortality by studying nature's secrets. They are
identified as far back as the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty [1279-1368].
The eight types represent the spectrum of Chinese society, from
young to old, rich to poor, civil to military, and women as well
as men. They were so popular and legendary that the number eight
still signifies happiness and good luck in Chinese society.
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