Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms: Volume 11 (Human Figures)

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...occurred. Continuing from the previous page's account of Mayizi. The local officials sought his aid, and as soon as Mayizi performed his ritual, a torrential rain fell, saturating the parched earth. It is said that he eventually transcended the physical world and ascended to the heavens in broad daylight during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Song dynasty.

The Immortal Magu

original: 麻姑仙人 (Magu Xianren). Magu, or the "Hemp Lady," is a legendary Daoist immortal associated with the elixir of life and longevity. She is a popular figure in art, often depicted offering peaches or wine for birthday celebrations.

Magu was a divine woman original: 神女 (shennu) of unknown origin. During the Han Dynasty, she was said to be the sister of the immortal Wang Fangping. Once, when Wang Fangping descended to the home of a commoner named Cai Jing, he summoned Magu to join them.

She appeared as a beautiful young woman of about eighteen or nineteen years, her hair gathered in a topknot with the remainder falling gracefully to her waist. Her robes were made of a shimmering, patterned silk that was not of this world—its colors were vibrant and its luster surpassed any mortal fabric.

Upon meeting Wang Fangping, she remarked:
"Since I last entered your service, I have seen the Eastern Sea turn into mulberry fields three times. This is the source of the famous idiom Canghai Sangtian, signifying the vast passage of geological time. To have seen the ocean dry up and become a forest three times implies she has lived for millions of years. Just recently, I traveled to Penglai The mythical island of the immortals in the eastern sea. and noticed that the water there is even shallower than it was before. It seems it may soon turn into dry land once again."

Magu’s fingernails were notably long, resembling the claws of a bird. When Cai Jing saw them, he thought to himself: "If my back had an itch, these nails would be perfect for scratching it." Wang Fangping, being an immortal, immediately sensed Cai Jing’s disrespectful thought and scolded him: "Magu is a divine personage! How dare you think of using her nails to scratch your itch!" Cai Jing was then struck across the back by an invisible whip.

Magu is often seen carrying a basket of Lingzhi mushrooms Reishi mushrooms, a symbol of immortality and is said to brew wine from divine hemp at the Flowing Pearl Spring on Mount Heng, which she offers as a gift of long life.