Eight Daoist Immortals, Cranes, and Gibbons late 17th-early 18th century Kano Tanshin (Morimasa) Japanese The central scroll depicting the Eight Daoist Immortals of ancient China is flanked by paintings of cranes and monkeys. Most of the immortals are easily identifiable. In the foreground are two who are often paired in Japan: Li Tieguai, who creates a miniature image of himself by blowing into the air, and Liu Haichan, with his mythical toad. Behind them is the sole female member of the Eight, He Xiangu, with a peach, symbol of fertility, longevity, and purity. In the background the famous Lu Dongbin paints an image of his dragon adversary in the air, while Zhang Guolao releases a miniature mule from a bag. The old gentleman flying down through the sky on a crane may be Zhongli Quan, considered the leader of the group.The painter of this triptych, Kano Tanshin, was the eldest son of Tan’y (1602-1674), influential head of the Kano school during the early Edo period, when the sch