Li Tieguai

Li Tieguai
The hermit Li Tieguai by Huang Shen, 1757
Traditional Chinese	李鐵拐
Simplified Chinese	李铁拐
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lǐ Tiěguǎi Wade–Giles Li3 T'ieh3-kuai3 IPA [lì tʰjè.kwàɪ] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Léih Tit-gwáai Jyutping Lei5 Tit3-gwaai2 IPA [lej˩˧ tʰit̚˧ kʷaj˧˥] Southern Min Hokkien POJ Lí Thiat-koái

Li Tieguai (Chinese: 李鐵拐; lit. 'Iron Crutch Li') is a figure in Chinese folklore and one of the Eight Immortals in the Taoist pantheon. He is sometimes described as irascible and ill-tempered, but also benevolent to the poor, sick and the needy, whose suffering he alleviates with special medicine from his bottle gourd. He is often portrayed as an ugly old man with a dirty face, a scraggly beard, and messy hair held by a golden band. He walks with the aid of an iron crutch and often has a gourd slung over his shoulder or held in his hand.^[1] He often is depicted as a clown figure who descends to earth in the form of a beggar^[2] who uses his power to fight for the oppressed and needy,^[3] and to heal others.^[2]

The legend says that Li was born in the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368),^[4] and was originally named "Li Xuan". However, in folklore, he is depicted as Laozi's apprentice, hence he should have lived in the sixth century BC.