Divine dream or instruction / 神示或梦感
Many versions begin with a young woman receiving instruction, a peach, or a sign from an immortal.
He Xiangu
Learn who He Xiangu is, why she is usually the only woman among the Eight Immortals, her lotus symbol, and how origin stories vary.
Quick facts
Chinese name: 何仙姑 - He Xiangu
Aliases: Immortal Woman He
Main source: Eight Immortals tradition
Key symbols: Lotus (莲花) - A common attribute identifying He Xiangu in paintings and decorative arts.
Who is He Xiangu?
Core IdentityThe female immortal of the Eight Immortals, usually recognized by youthful elegance, lotus imagery, and stories of purity and cultivation.
Her role balances the group: among eccentric old men, scholars, officials, and wanderers, she gives the Eight Immortals a distinct feminine path to transcendence.
For readers, the important point is that versions vary, but the stable visual anchor is the lotus and the idea of quiet spiritual refinement.
He Xiangu: names and titles
These names and titles are not random labels. For He Xiangu, most mark a story stage, social position, divine office, religious role, or visual tradition.
| Title | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|
| He Xiangu / 何仙姑 | Immortal Lady He / 何姓仙姑 | Her standard name as the female member of the Eight Immortals. / 作为八仙女性成员时最标准的称呼。 |
| He Qiong / 何琼 | Birth name / 本名 | A common mortal name in many versions. / 许多版本中常见的凡人姓名。 |
| Lotus Immortal / 荷 / 莲花仙姑 | Lotus-associated immortal lady / 莲花相关仙姑 | A descriptive title based on lotus iconography rather than a single fixed official title. / 基于莲花图像的说明性称呼，不一定是固定正式神号。 |
Main story path
Immortal diet and cultivation / 清修与仙食
Her path often emphasizes fasting, special nourishment, and quiet cultivation.
Ascension / 升仙
Some stories describe her rising to Heaven and leaving a human trace behind.
Joining the Eight Immortals / 列入八仙
She becomes the only woman in the standard Eight Immortals group.
He Xiangu: character traits
These are literary and cultural traits used to read He Xiangu across source stories, visual traditions, and later adaptations.
Purity and grace / 清净优雅
The lotus marks purity, refinement, and spiritual clarity.
Youthful image / 年轻形象
She is often depicted as a young woman in flowing robes.
Quiet cultivation / 安静清修
Her immortality is usually linked with discipline and inner refinement.
Gentle strength / 柔和力量
Her power is calm and graceful rather than combative.
Why He Xiangu matters
He Xiangu matters because she gives the Eight Immortals a clearly feminine and contemplative dimension.
Her lotus image makes her one of the easiest immortals to identify in paintings, sculptures, festival illustrations, and contemporary retellings.
Artifacts and symbols
He Xiangu / 何仙姑
Lotus (莲花) - A common attribute identifying He Xiangu in paintings and decorative arts.
Where this appears
He Xiangu / 何仙姑
Eight Immortals legends, paintings, theater and decorative arts
Version note: Origin stories for He Xiangu vary, so this guide focuses on stable iconographic features.
Common questions
Why do versions differ?
Many Chinese mythology figures appear across novels, opera, temple images, paintings, animation, games, and local traditions. This guide keeps version cautions visible when the source tradition is not uniform.
Sources checked for this guide
- Eight Immortals - Figure group overview
- He Xiangu - Figure overview
- The Met: Cup with Eight Daoist Immortals - Museum object record
- The Walters Art Museum: The Eight Immortals - Museum object record
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