Tieguai Li, one of the Eight Immortals in Taoism, has the longest history and the most senior qualification among the Eight Immortals. His magic tools are an iron crutch and a gourd, and he is regarded as the leader of the Eight Immortals. There are many legends about the origin of Tieguai Li's life. One says that he was enlightened by the Queen Mother of the West and became an immortal, was granted the title of Donghua Sect Leader, and was given an iron staff. Another says that his original name was Hongshui, and he often begged in the market, being despised by people. Later, he threw his iron staff into the air, which turned into a flying dragon, and he rode the dragon to become an immortal.
Yet another says that his name was Li Xuan, who attained Taoism after encountering Supreme Lord Laozi. One day, he went on a spiritual journey to Mount Hua to keep an appointment with Supreme Lord Laozi, and told his disciple that if he did not return within seven days, his disciple could cremate his body. However, the disciple wanted to go home because his mother was ill, so he cremated Li Xuan's body on the sixth day. On the seventh day, when Li Xuan's soul returned, there was no body for it to attach to, so it entered the body of a lame beggar who had just died. As a result, he became unkempt, with his belly exposed and one foot lame. He then sprayed water on the bamboo staff leaning against him, turning it into an iron crutch, hence the name "Tieguai Li" (Li with the Iron Crutch).
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