Xian (Taoism)
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A xian is any manner of immortal or mythical being within the Taoist pantheon or Chinese folklore. Xian has often been translated into English as 'transcendent', 'immortal', or 'wizard'.
"The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea"
Xian as depicted on Eighty-seven Immortals (八十七神仙), popularly attributed to Tang dynasty painter Wu Daozi, currently housed in Xu Beihong Memorial Hall in Beijing.
Xiwangmu descends from heavens with a Peach of Immortality (Jade Pond Birthday greeting, by Jin Tingbiao, Qing dynasty
Four Immortals Saluting Longevity, by Shang Xi (商喜), early Ming dynasty (1368–1644). The immortals are from left to right: Shide, Hanshan, Iron-Crutch Li, and Liu Haichan. The longevity deity riding the crane.
Hou Yi
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Hou Yi is a mythological Chinese archer. He was also known as Shen Yi and simply as Yi. He is also typically given the title of "Lord Archer". He is sometimes portrayed as a god of archery or a xian d
Xian (Taoism)
…of Chinese religion. In ancient Chinese dynasties such as the Han, various gods were thought to be xian instead in some retellings of their mythology. Hou Yi was one example of this. The Liezi ("[Book of] Master Lie"), which Louis Komjathy suggests was compiled in the 3rd century CE (though it contains earlier…
Houyi takes aim at the Suns (right upper corner), rubbing from the Wu Liang Shrines reliefs