Xi Wang-mu : Chinese
goddess of immortality.� She symbols the
negative or female portion of cosmic energy called yin.� Originally, she was an awful tiger-woman who
brought death by plagues, but under Taoism she became a more serene
goddess.� She appears in a Japanese Noh
play that bears her name.
Xian : A
Taoist adept who has achieved immortality.�
The Chinese alchemist, Ko Gong described the three different types of
these immortals and their habitations.�
They are associated with the crane, a sacred bird symbolizing longevity
in both China and Japan.
