Scott No: 3374
Serial number: 2004-15
Values in set: 1
Denomination: 600 fen
Date of issue: July 30, 2004
Designer: Wang Huming
Size of S/S stamp: 110*60mm
Size of S/S: 156*82mm
Perforation: 12
Printing process: gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The stories of the Eight Taoist Immortals were first recorded in the Tang Dynasty, but the figures were not fully developed until the Ming Dynasty. According to the stories, they had great supernatural skills and power. The story of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea first appeared in "Biography of the Eight Immortals by Wu Yuantai of the Ming Dynasty. Once the Eight Immortals have to cross the raging East Sea on their way to an assembly. Upon the proposal of Lu Dongbin, each of them uses his own skills and power to do it. Han Zhongli with his palm-leaf fan, Li Tieguai his calabash containing elixir of life, Lu Dongbin his sword, Zhang Guolao his paper donkey on which he sits backward, Lan Caihe his flower basket, Han Xiangzi his jade flute, Royal Uncle Cao his jade tablet, and Immortal woman He her lotus flower. All of them successfully reach the other side of the sea. "The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, Each Showing His or Her Magic Power" has been a household story in China.