Album of Immortals. Twelve leaves. Qing dynasty. Painted in color on silk (38x42 cm). Collection of the British Museum-PDF

This album, "Illustrations of Immortal Figures," was painted by Leng Mei during the Qing Dynasty. The entire album consists of twelve sections, depicting twelve stories of individuals who attained immortality, such as An Qi Sheng meeting an immortal, Qin Gao riding a carp, Dong Fang Shuo stealing peaches, Wo Quan gathering herbs, An Qi Sheng's jujubes, the arrival of the purple qi from the east, Ma Gu offering longevity, and the Jade Cup riding a dragon, and so on. The figures exhibit natural spiritual essence, full forms, and exquisite colors. This album is now preserved in the British Museum.

Qin Gao Riding a Carp

Qin Gao was a man from Zhao during the Warring States period, skilled in playing the qin and deeply versed in the art of immortality. Once, he entered the Zhuo River to retrieve a dragon's child. Before leaving, he instructed his disciples to meet by the riverbank at the appointed time. When the time came, Qin Gao emerged from the water riding a red carp, and his disciples all knelt in reverence.

Dongfang Shuo Stealing Peaches

This theme of the painting is derived from the legend of Dongfang Shuo stealing peaches. The scene depicts Dongfang Shuo returning to the mortal world after stealing peaches from the immortal realm. Dongfang Shuo holds the peaches he stole, Peaches of Immortality, and looks back with a look of secret joy.

Reng Guang's Ascension Painting?

Reng Guang was a native of Shangcai County in Cai State during the Spring and Autumn Period. He was skilled in alchemy and wandered between cities and villages selling elixirs. Although he was over a hundred years old, he still looked young, like someone in their twenties or thirties. Later, Zhao Jianzi, a minister of Jin State, learned of him and respectfully invited him to Jin. The people of Jin also bought his elixirs. He wandered on Hongtishan Mountain and flew high into the clouds, ascending into the heavens.

Anqi's Immortal Jujube Painting

Ancient legends say Anqisheng once sold medicine in the East Sea. It is said he was over a thousand years old and even met and conversed with Qin Shi Huang. During the Western Han Dynasty, the alchemist Li Shaojun told Emperor Wu of Han that he had seen the immortal Anqisheng on the sea, who possessed divine medicine capable of healing. Li Shaojun was given giant jujubes from Anqisheng, as large as melons. Anqisheng was the very immortal, traveling between the immortal islands of Pengla (one of the legendary sacred mountains in the East Sea). If you were lucky enough to encounter him, you would see him, but if not, he would remain hidden.

Wanquan Collecting Medicine

Wanquan is a medicine collector on Huai Mountain. His body hair is seven inches long, his eyes can see in eight directions, he flies faster than a horse, and he loves to eat simple fruits. Those who eat simple fruits can live to be over three hundred years old.

Purple Qi Coming from the East

Legend has it that before Laozi passed through the Hangu Pass, the gatekeeper Yinxi saw purple qi coming from the east and knew that a sage would pass through. Indeed, Laozi came riding a green ox.

Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers

Xiao Qi Playing the Flute to Attract Phoenix

Xiao Qi, during the late Han Dynasty, practiced cultivation at Yanshou Palace on Tianping Mountain. He was skilled in playing the flute and could attract phoenixes to gather, bringing auspicious signs. His Taoist name was Bixiao Yun.

Mago Offering Longevity

Magu, from Jianchang, practiced cultivation on the Yugu Mountain southeast of Mouzhou. On the third day of the third month, the birthday of the Queen Mother of the West, Magu brewed wine with lingzhi by the side of the Crimson Pearl River to celebrate her birthday.

Jade Goblet Riding a Dragon?

Lady Tai Zhen, the youngest daughter of the Queen Mother of the West and the Jade Goblet, would attract hundreds of birds with each strum of her one-stringed lute. Sometimes she would ride a white dragon to travel across the four seas.

Yellow Emperor Alchemy Diagram?

Leng Mei (c. 1670—1742), a court painter during the early Qing Dynasty, styled Ji Chen, alias Golden Gate Art Historian, was from Jiaozhou (now part of Shandong Province). He studied under the early Qing court painter Jiao Bingzhen and excelled in painting figures, beauties, landscapes, and flowers and birds. His style was meticulous and detailed, with rich colors. In the mid-Kangxi period, he entered the court to serve, but was expelled from the Qing court after the ascension of the Yongzheng Emperor. Later, when the Qianlong Emperor ascended the throne, Leng Mei was summoned back to the palace by imperial decree. Leng Mei passed away in the seventh year of the Qianlong era (1742).