Who is the Magu 麻姑 Magu Yuanjun

Magu, also known as "Magu Yuanjun", is an immortal in Taoism. Ge Hong's Shenxian Zhuan (Biographies of Immortals) refers to her as the younger sister of Wang Fangping, an immortal, who was from Jianchang (now part of Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province) and practiced Taoism on Guyu Mountain in the southeast of Mouzhou, ranking second only to Shangzhen Yuanjun. During the reign of Emperor Huan of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the immortal Wang Fangping descended to Cai Jing's home and summoned Magugu. Accompanied by a host of immortal officials and the sounds of drums and flutes, Magu arrived at Cai Jing's residence. She was dressed in splendid brocade, radiant with brilliance; her hands were like bird claws, and she wore a hair bun on the top of her head, with the rest of her hair hanging down to her waist. She claimed to have witnessed the East China Sea turn into mulberry fields three times. Wang Fangping hosted a feast in her honor, and when Magu scattered rice to dispel impurities, all the scattered rice turned into pearls. After the feast, Wang Fangping and Magu ascended to heaven.

Some say that Magu lived during the Tang Dynasty, with the surname Li and the courtesy name Qiongxian. She first entered the palace as a court lady, then practiced Taoism in the Danxia Wanling Cave Heaven on Magu Mountain (said to be west of Nancheng County, Jiangxi Province, one of the 36 Taoist Grotto Heavens) and attained immortality there. This is recorded in the inscription Magu Xiantan Ji (Record of Magu Immortal Altar) by Yan Zhenqing of the Tang Dynasty.

It is said that Magugu also visited the Ghost City of Fengdu in Sichuan. There is the Magu Cave and Xian'gu Rock in the Ghost City, where Magugu once practiced cultivation. The legend of Magu has long been popular among the people. It is said that the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month is the birthday of the Queen Mother of the West, and Magu brewed fine wine with ganoderma lucidum by the Jiangzhu River to celebrate her birthday. Thus, Magu gradually became a symbol of auspiciousness and longevity. Her image depicts a beautiful female immortal riding a crane through the clouds. This image is often given as a gift to celebrate women's birthdays, known as "Magugu Presenting Birthday Wishes".