Dongfang Shuo was a native of Pingyuan Yanci. He had long lived in Wu Zhong, serving as a calligraphy teacher for several decades. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty, he submitted a memorial discussing policies beneficial to state affairs and was appointed as an Attendant Officer (Lang). By the time of Emperor Zhao, some people in his era regarded him as a sage, while others considered him an ordinary man. He performed actions that were profound or shallow, open or reserved; he spoke either earnestly or humorously, and no one could discern his true intent. At the beginning of Emperor Xuan's reign, he abandoned his post as an Attendant Officer to avoid the chaotic times, left behind his official cap and residence, and departed like a drifting wind. Later, he was seen in Kuaiji, selling medicine around the Five Lakes. Wise men suspected that he was a spirit of Jupiter (the planet).

Dongfang Qida blended with the customs and trends of his time. Sometimes a dragon, sometimes a snake — how could one foresee honor or disgrace? His lofty demeanor soared to the heavens; he was unbound and unrestrained. He left his traces in the Five Lakes, and his shadow soared over Yanggu Valley.

The image of "one dragon, one snake" reflects a core Taoist ideal: the sage adapts fluidly to circumstances, concealing wisdom beneath an ordinary exterior. This is the hallmark of Taoist immortality — not withdrawal from the world, but invisible transcendence within it. Dongfang Shuo's paradoxical conduct echoes the teachings of Taoist inner alchemy, where the cultivated adept hides profound attainment behind everyday behavior. Like other Taoist immortal figures recorded in classical texts, he ultimately vanished beyond the reach of ordinary perception.