尊號

民間

呂洞賓道術高超，樂善好施，扶危濟困，深得百姓敬仰，被信徒尊稱為呂仙、呂祖、呂仙祖、呂祖師、純陽祖師。北方稱之為呂仙翁，閩南、台灣民間信仰俗稱其為呂仙公，簡稱「仙公」。

扶鸞的信眾則時常稱之為呂恩主，與關帝君、岳鄂王、灶君張單、王靈官合稱為「五恩主」。

官方

中國歷史朝廷敕封：

宋朝：宋徽宗宣和元年封「妙道真君」（一作：妙道真人）。

元朝：元世祖至元六年封「純陽演正警化真君」，元武宗至大三年加「純陽演正警化孚佑帝君」。

宗教

道教因各宗派不同，尊稱為：雷霆太行大天師、靈寶純陽一炁華蓋掌道真君、廣濟正道妙通宏仁普惠帝君、興行妙道天尊、興隆大道護國濟民伭元廣法天尊、一陽真聖三臺選仙總管五雷化育七星高居九梵道法玄明仁極無上大天尊等。

普稱「玉清內相、金闕選仙、三曹主宰、興行妙道天尊、純陽演正警化孚佑帝君」。通稱為純陽祖師、孚佑帝君。

古書記載

范致明《岳陽風土記》記載，洞賓出身門閥，曾祖為浙江東道節度使呂延之，祖父為禮部侍郎呂渭，父為海州刺史呂讓。洞賓自小聰明過人，日記萬言，過目成誦，出口成章，長大後「身長八尺二寸，喜頂華陽巾，衣黃欗杉，系一皂鞗，狀類張子房，二十不娶」。

據《道藏·歷世真仙體道通鑑》言 ：「呂祖以五月二十日登黃鶴樓，午刻升天而去。故留成仙聖跡。」《全真晚壇課功經》中稱其「黃鶴樓頭留聖跡」。

宋代道教學者曾慥編《集仙傳》稱唐與五代成道之士中，「獨純陽子呂公顯力廣大」。

《宋史 · 陳摶傳》載：呂曾「數來摶齋中」「百餘歲而童顏，步履輕疾，頃刻數百里，世以為神仙」。

在《狐狸緣全傳》中，呂洞賓下界降妖,與玉面狐戰成平手。

形象與職能

呂仙在今日最經典的形象，是穿著一件青色的道袍，手持拂塵，另一手平放，或捏劍訣（伸出食指、中指），寶劍懸於腰間，或負於背後。

• 醫神：由於呂仙善於煉丹，時常濟世救人，被認為有醫神的性質。

• 武神：呂仙曾習「天遁劍法」，手持神劍，能降妖伏魔，亦能「飛劍」而出，有武神的性質。

• 科考之神：呂仙本為文士，曾舉進士，士人學子將呂仙與文昌君、魁星、關帝君、朱衣神合奉，稱「五文昌」，相傳能保佑文運，金榜題名。

• 財神、淘金、礦業之神：有一些金礦工人，或生意人，因相傳鍾離權、呂純陽師徒能「點石成金」或「點鐵成金」（將石頭、鐵等變為黃金），故奉二仙為保護神、財神。如臺灣新北市瑞芳區九份一帶，即有奉祀呂仙的廟宇，如金山佛堂等。

• 理髮師之守護神：相傳明太祖朱元璋因頭上爛瘡劇痛難忍，常殺理髮師洩憤，而呂仙化身理髮師將朱元璋治療好，救了不少理髮師性命，故被理髮業者奉為保護神。另說則是一棵柳樹修道成仙，作弄理髮師，頭髮即剃即長。呂仙化身理髮師，以寶劍化剃刀，將柳仙降伏。故理髮界都奉之為保護之神。

• 文具（墨、硯等）業者之守護神：范致明《岳陽風土記》載，呂仙得道以後曾假扮墨、紙販子，混居市上。另外，宋代有知名呂姓道人專製硯、墨，蘇東坡曰：「澤州呂道人沈泥硯，多作投壺樣。其首有呂字，非刻非畫，堅致可以試金。道人已死，硯漸難得。」民間相傳該呂姓，奉祀「回道人」呂祖師為守護神。而後廣傳於世。

• 青樓之守護神：某些娼妓也以呂純陽為祖師，因為呂仙可保佑平安。據說是源自呂仙遊走市井，點化娼妓，並為妓女治療惡疾。

• 斬「爛桃花」之神：臺灣民眾則相信，呂祖師神劍亦能斬「爛桃花」，只要是有緣無份，最後無法成連理的情侶偕同赴廟，將會分手。故情侶一般不敢同赴呂祖廟。近日外遇風氣盛行，竟有許多元配正妻來祈求呂祖師，將夫婿的孽緣斬斷。木柵指南宮廟方表示，因為呂洞賓是劍神，配有桃木劍，神明慈悲為懷，只斬爛桃花，所以若信眾有感情糾紛，可來廟中參拜，求得和諧。

　• 亦有市井謠說，指呂仙因追求其他女神失利，而不滿入廟參拜的情侶，正一道道長指出：「呂祖師已然得道，無欲無求，焉有可能踏入情場？又神以慈悲為懷，豈有可能降禍於入廟的信徒？」臺北市木柵指南宮廟方人員則批評為「無稽之談」。 指南宮廟方解釋：「何仙姑是呂洞賓渡化成仙的徒弟，沒有民間傳說想像中的兒女私情」；主委黃承國表示：「民間傳說有誤，成為神明者都與人為善，不會拆散別人的姻緣。」

傳說

呂祖的傳奇可說是道教神仙人物中最多者，南宋《夷堅志》一書就收錄了近三十條。其他諸如救人濟世，拔劍助弱，斬妖除魔，點化迷途等等，多不勝數，《呂祖志》中說，其師正陽真人鐘離權將升天，約呂祖一起，呂祖曰：「喦之志，異于先生，須度盡天下眾生，方上升未晚也。」從此，歷史上關于呂祖現身度化、濟困助人的傳說絡繹不絕。

民間的呂祖，是「八仙」中最負傳奇色彩的人物。五代以後，一直有人借呂祖的名義出山，讓他的傳說更加豐富而且神奇，比如「呂洞賓四下鶴城」、「呂洞賓賣糰子」、「呂洞賓黃梁夢度盧生」、「呂洞賓飛劍斬黃龍」、「呂洞賓三戲白牡丹」等等。

傳說呂洞賓曾三次在岳陽樓喝醉，人稱「呂洞賓三醉岳陽樓」，在岳陽樓題詩曰：「朝游北海暮蒼梧，袖裏青蛇膽氣粗。三醉岳陽人不識，朗吟飛過洞庭湖。」經過佛寺，題壁曰：「三千里外無家客，七百年前雲水身。行滿蓬萊為別館，道成瓦礫盡黃金。待賓榼裏常存酒，化藥爐中別有春。積德求師何患少，由來天地不私親。」後又書：「唐室進士，今時神仙。足躡紫霧，卻歸洞天。」曾經在湖州沈東老家留宿，狂飲之後消失不見，以石榴皮題壁曰：「西鄰已富憂不足，東老雖貧樂有餘。白酒釀來緣好客，黃金散盡為收書。」

呂洞賓也在《全唐詩》留下《為賈師雄發明古鐵鏡》絕句一首：「袖裏青蛇凌白日，洞中仙果艷長春。須知物外餐霞客，不是塵中磨鏡人。」

北宋開始，民間關于呂祖的傳說愈來愈多。苗善時收編為《純陽帝君神化妙通紀》。傳說呂祖曾師苦竹真君，習得日月交拜之法；又游廬山，遇火龍真人，習得天遁劍法，民間甚至傳說，呂祖身有飛劍，可飛出千里尋人並將其斬首。

南宋初人吳曾所撰的《能改齋漫錄》卷十八中，記有呂祖自傳。據說呂洞賓曾自言：「世言吾飛劍取人頭，吾甚哂之。實有三劍，一斷無明煩惱，二斷無明嗔怒，三斷無明貪慾。」《唐才子傳》呂祖說：「吾仙人，安用劍為？所以斷嗔愛煩惱耳。」

正陽渡純陽

呂純陽在長安酒肆遇正陽真人鐘離權，正陽收呂為徒，且對呂有「十試」的考驗：

第一試：呂純陽一日外出回來，突見親人悉皆病死，純陽既不悲傷，也不悔恨，只管置辦壽衣、棺木，準備料理喪事，不一會兒，親人又全都活過來，純陽無哀喜之情。

第二試：純陽上街賣貨，與買主討價還價後，說好了價錢，但買主又反悔變卦，只付給一半價錢，純陽不惱，讓買主大搖大擺地把貨物拿走。

第三試：春節正月初一，純陽正欲出門，遇一乞丐倚門乞討，純陽急施財物，但乞丐卻沒完沒了，一討再討，口出穢言，純陽只是滿臉堆笑。

第四試：純陽牧羊山中，忽遇一餓虎追捕羊群。純陽保護羊群下坡躲避，自己上前以身擋虎，老虎見之悻悻而去。

第五試：純陽居山中茅舍讀書，忽然來了一個美女，聲稱自己迷路前來求宿。繼而，這女子百般挑逗，夜逼共寢，純陽始終神態自若。

第六試：純陽一日外出歸來，發現家中遭竊，財產遭洗劫一空，純陽沒有頹喪，沒有報官，乃躬耕自鋤。鋤地時忽然挖出十幾錠黃金，純陽趕緊用土掩埋，分毫未取。

第七試：純陽一次上街買些銅器，回到家中一看，全都是金器，純陽馬上退還給貨主。

第八試：有個顛狂道士在街巷裡賣藥，聲稱服者立死，來世可以得道。人們聽了，誰個肯自尋死路？純陽不信邪，買回服之、安然無恙。

第九試：河水泛濫，純陽與眾人乘舟渡河，行至中游，狂風暴作，波濤洶湧，眾人驚懼，唯純陽神態自若，端然不動，視生死之度外。

第十試：純陽獨坐室中，忽見無數奇形怪狀的妖魔鬼怪欲殺欲打，純陽毫不畏懼。又一群夜叉，押著一個血淋淋的死囚，前來索命：「你前世殺了我，今當還命！」純陽道：「殺人償命，欠債還錢。」神態自若，端然不動。忽然見空中大喝一聲，鬼怪皆無。一人撫掌大笑，卻是正陽真人鐘離權。

十試，純陽皆已經無我，無得失心，以平常心態對待，鐘離權極為滿意。帶著純陽至終南山鶴嶺，傳以靈寶秘法，上真秘法，共同開創了鐘呂金丹派。

但純陽不執著於煉仙丹、點鐵成金的法術，改之為內功，只以慈悲度世為成道路徑。修仙成功之後，時常下山雲遊四方，為百姓解除疾病，不要任何報酬。傳說黃河水災，瘟疫頻傳時，有一醫者發丹與民，服食者皆生，救人無數，人問其名，對曰：「二口子」，問其居處，對曰：「山下石。」問其鄉貫，對曰：「山窟鄉客」。言畢即去。「二口子，山下石。」呂岩也，「山窟鄉客」洞賓也。

（一說正陽真人鐘離權的師傅東華帝君，是純陽真人呂洞賓的前身。該說法多見明清章回小說以及降筆揮鸞勸善文中，如《八仙得道傳》、《東遊記》等。另據《歷代神仙通鑑》，呂洞賓是上古聖王「皇覃氏」轉世。）

狗咬呂洞賓

俗語說：「狗咬呂洞賓，不識好人心。」相傳呂洞賓有一次以包子餵狗，卻反被狗咬，這比喻有「不識好壞，不分好歹」的意思。

飛劍斬黃龍

有佛教徒聲稱呂純陽後來成為黃龍禪師的弟子，因而成為佛門的護法神。相傳當時呂洞賓以為仙家比禪宗優越，於是挑戰黃龍禪師，但在辯論中被黃龍禪師打敗，於是呂洞賓憤而與黃龍禪師鬥法，但還是被黃龍禪師擊敗，最後呂洞賓得到黃龍禪師點化，於是呂洞賓懺悔並皈依佛門。

由於這個故事在民間頗為流行，因此道教方面為了捍衛呂洞賓的形象，把這個故事改寫成不同的版本，或謂被黃龍禪師降服的那個呂洞賓其實是好色的宋人顏洞賓而非呂純陽本人，或謂呂祖才是贏得勝利的一方。另一方面，一些佛教徒聲稱這些道教徒誤解了這個故事的創作者的意圖，他們聲稱關於黃龍禪師降服呂祖一事的故事不一定真實的，他們表示自己認為其實佛教方面只是希望藉這個故事說明一些道理以顯示其認為佛教教義比道教教義更為正確。

關於呂祖可能是隱秘的景教徒一事的說法

有近代學者透過翻譯《救劫證道經咒》而推定呂洞賓可能是隱藏的景教徒或受過景教影響的修行者，原因是譯文中有四章似乎是基督教的讚美詩，但也有學者批駁作者是呂洞賓這個說法。

影視形象

• 《楊家將》- 周潤發飾

• 《笑八仙》- 鄭少秋 飾

• 《本尊就位》- 謝東閔飾

Character

Lü Dongbin is usually portrayed as a scholarly, clever man with a genuine desire to help people obtain wisdom/enlightenment and to learn the Tao. However, he is often portrayed as having some character "flaws," not an uncommon theme for the colorful Taoist immortals, all of whom in general have various eccentricities:

• He is portrayed as having bouts of drunkenness, which was not uncommon among the often fun-loving Eight Immortals. This also parallels several Taoist artists renowned for their love of drinking.

• One story relates that early on after becoming immortal, he had a strong temper as a "young" immortal, even deforming a riverbank in a bout of anger.

• He is said to be a ladies man, even after (or only after) becoming an immortal – and for this reason he is generally not invoked by people with romantic problems. This may also relate to some of the Taoist sexual arts.

• Lü was also a prolific poet. His works were collected in the Quan Tangshi (Complete Tang poetry).

Early life

His name is Lü Yán, with Yán ( or or ) being the given name. Dòngbīn is his courtesy name. He is called Master Pure-Yang ( Chunyang Zi), and is also called Lü the Progenitor ( lü zŭ) by some Daoist, especially those of the Quanzhen School. He was born in Jingzhao Prefecture ( Jīngzhào Fŭ) around 796 CE during the Tang dynasty. His birthday is said to be the 14th day of the fourth month of the Chinese calendar.

When he was born, a fragrance allegedly filled the room. His birthday is said to be on the fourteenth day of the fourth month of the Chinese calendar. He had been very intelligent since childhood and had many academic achievements. However, according to one story, still unmarried by the age of 20, Lü twice took the top-level civil service exam to become a government official, but did not succeed.

In the first year of Tang Baoli (825 CE), he was a scholar for a period of time. He served as a county magistrate twice. Soon he was ruined by officialdom, abandoned his official position and retired to the mountains. Once he went to a Chang'an wine store, met the real Zhongli Quan ( Zhong Liquan), passed ten trials, and Quan taught him the way to create the Golden pill; consequently he learned the way and became an immortal.

Yellow Millet Dream

Legend has it that one night when Lü Yan was in Chang'an or Handan, he dozed off as his yellow millet was cooking in a hotel. He dreamed that he took the imperial exam and excelled, and thus was awarded a prestigious office and soon promoted to the position of vice minister ( shìláng). He then married the daughter of a prosperous household and had a son and a daughter. He was promoted again and again, and finally became the prime minister. However, his success and luck attracted jealousy of others, so he was accused of crimes that caused him to lose his office. His wife then betrayed him, his children were killed by bandits, and he lost all his wealth. As he was dying on the street in the dream, he woke up.

Although in the dream, eighteen years had passed, the whole dream actually happened in the time it took his millet to cook. The characters from his dream were actually played by Zhongli Quan in order to make him realize that one should not put too much importance on transient glory and success. As a result, Lü went with Zhongli to discover and cultivate the Tao. This dream is known as "Dream of the Yellow Millet" ( Huáng Liáng Mèng) and is described in a writing compiled by Ma Zhiyuan of the Yuan dynasty.

In volume 82 of Song dynasty scholar Li Fang's Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, an earlier version of the story, Lü Dongbin was replaced by Student Lu ( Lú Shēng), and Zhongli Quan by Elder Lü ( Lǚ Wēng).

The exact age of Lü Yan when this incident occurred varies in the tellings, from 20 years of age to 40.

Ten trials of Lü Dongbin

Legend has that while he was in Chang'an, Lü had to pass ten tests by Zhongli Quan before Quan took him in as a disciple and Lü could subsequently cultivate into an immortal. These ten trials are described below.

• One day Lü came back from work and found out that his loved one was dying; without sadness or remorse, he started to prepare the dress and coffin necessary for burial, but later his loved one revived and lived on. Lü was still without sadness or joyous feeling.

• Lü was selling goods at a market and there came a buyer to bargain with him. After agreeing on the price, Lü handed him the stuff but the buyer refused to pay in full and then walked away. Lü would not argue and let him walk away.

• On the first day of the lunar calendar, Lü met with a beggar. After giving him some money, the beggar kept asking for more and threw vulgar words at him. Lü left the scene with a smile.

• Lü was once a shepherd. During his tenure a hungry tiger was eyeing the goats under his care. Lü protected the goats by sending them down to the hillside and stood in front of the Tiger. The hungry tiger was awed to see this and left without hurting Lü.

• Lü was studying at a small hut on a mountain when a beautiful woman came by and asked if she could stay there for the night since she was lost. That night, this beautiful lady was flirting and tried to get Lü to have sex with her, but Lü was untouched by such temptation.

• One day Lü came back to his house and saw that he had been burglarized and lost all his belongings. Without becoming angry he started to work on his farm. As he dug into the ground he found countless pieces of gold. He uncovered the earth without taking a single piece of the gold.

• Lü bought some bronze utensils at a market. Upon returning home he realized that all of the utensils were made of gold and he immediately returned them to the seller.

• A crazy Taoist was selling medicine on the street, telling people that his magic potion would have one of two outcomes: either 1) the drinker would die on the spot, or 2) the drinker would become immortal. No one would dare to try, except Lü, who bought and tried the potion. Nothing happened to him.

• A river was elevated due to heavy rain. Lü and other passengers were on a boat crossing the river. Before reaching the middle of the journey, the weather deteriorated, and most of the passengers except Lü became worried. Lü took it in his stride and never worried about life and death!

• Lü was alone at home and suddenly weird things happened. Ghost and monsters were killing each other and wanted to do the same to Lü. Showing no sense of fear, Lü kept on doing his chores without paying attention to them. Another group of devils with blood all over them tried to take Lü's life away by saying to Lü that he owed his previous life to them since in past life Lü took his life. Without any fear Lü said 『go ahead and take my life since I took yours in past life, this is fair and square !』 All of a sudden the sky turned blue and those ghost and devils disappeared. Zhongli Quan (Who happened to be his Teacher and Mentor in Taoist stories) was looking and laughing at him while all these events were happening.

These 10 tests proved that Lü was a pure and dignified person and Master Zhongli was very satisfied and happy to take Lü to Nan San Her Ling to pass his secret to life and subsequently formed a "Zhong-Lü Golden Dan" school of Taoism. But Lü was not too fond of the secret and instead changed his formula for inner peace and benefits more human beings; many until today practiced such path to immortals. This is his major effort and contribution. He is said to have helped many to walk the right path and improve the health and living conditions of many people.

Stories and legends

Since the Northern Song dynasty, there have been many stories and legends that are connected to Lü Dongbin. The stories were usually about Lü helping others to learn the Tao. According to the official history of the Song dynasty, Lü was seen several times visiting the house of Chen Tuan, who was believed to be the first person to present to the public the Taijitu.

He was popular even centuries before the Northern Song.

The kindness of Lü Dongbin is demonstrated in the Chinese proverb "dog bites Lü Dongbin" ( gǒu yǎo Lǚ Dòngbīn), which means an inability to recognize goodness and repay kindness with vice. According to the story behind the proverb, Lü Dongbin once argued with Erlang Shen at the heavenly court, which led Xiaotian Quan to harbor deep animosity towards Lü Dongbin. One day, Xiaotian Quan fell into the mortal realm as punishment and was captured by humans and sold at a dog meat shop. Around the same time, Lü Dongbin descended to earth and happened to pass by. He saw what had happened and rescued the dog. However, instead of showing gratitude, the dog bit him, remembering its master's grudge.

Some say that the original proverb should actually be "," stemming from a story about the friendship between the Dog and Lü Dongbin, who both did for the other great favors, each of which seemed like a disservice initially, signifying the importance of having faith in one's friends. This story is not substantiated because Gou Miao is not mentioned in any classical text, and only popularized on the Internet.

According to Richard Wilhelm, Lü was the founder of the School of the Golden Elixir of Life (Jin Dan Jiao), and originator of the material presented in the book Tai Yi Jin Hua Zong Zhi, or "The Secret of the Golden Flower". Also, according to Daoist legend, he is the founder of the internal martial arts style called "Eight Immortals Sword", considered to be one of the martial treasures of Wudangshan.

According to one story, Lü's teacher Zhongli Quan became an immortal and was about to fly to heaven, while saying to Lü that if he kept practicing the Tao he would also be able to fly to heaven himself very soon. Lü Dongbin replied to his teacher that he'll fly to heaven only after he enlightens all the sentient beings on earth (another story says all his relatives). According to the book The Eight Immortals Achieving the Tao, in his previous incarnation, Lü Dongbin was a Taoist master and the teacher of Zhongli Quan.

According to the Taoist book History of the Immortals, Lü is the reincarnation of the ancient Sage-King "Huang-Tan-Shi".

According to Venerable Hsuan Hua, Lü is one of the transformations of Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara) Bodhisattva.

Lü killed multiple dragons with his magic sword.

Lü Dongbin and White Peony (Bai Mudan)

One of the most popular of Lü Dongbin's legends is his encounter with a prostitute named White Peony (Bai Mudan). The most popular version comes from the novel Journey to the East. It is said that the immortal Lü Dongbin was greatly attracted to White Peony, one of the most beautiful courtesans in Luoyang. Lü Dongbin slept with her many times but never ejaculated, because he did not want to lose his Yang essence. Unfortunately, Lu's immortal colleague Iron-Crutch Li and He Xiangu taught Mudan how to make him ejaculate by tickling his groin. Finally, White Peony successfully made Lü Dongbin ejaculate and absorbed his Yang essence. Later she cultivated herself and became immortal too.

Another version comes from the novel Ba Xian Dedao. This version is more subtle and there is no sexual intercourse here. One day the immortal Lü Dongbin transforms himself into a handsome scholar and tries to advise the famous prostitute White Peony. In their first encounter, White Peony seduces him passionately, but he refuses to sleep with her. In their second encounter, Lü agrees to sleep with her. But as they walk to the bed, Lü suddenly cries that his stomach is painful, and faints. White Peony is very sorry about his condition and calls a doctor using her money (despite her pimp's grumbling, who incites her to throw the sick Lü to the road). Lü (who is only pretending to be sick) is very pleased knowing Peony's merciful heart. In their third encounter, Lü Dongbin finally succeeds in persuading White Peony to leave her wayward life. She finally becomes immortal too.

In the opera version, White Peony is changed from a seductive prostitute to the daughter of a drugstore owner. One day Lü Dongbin comes to their store and makes trouble by asking for impossible medicines. Knowing her father's difficulty, Peony meets Lü and answers all of his question. From quarreling, they finally become lovers.

Lü Dongbin Drunk at Yueyang Tower Three Times

Lü Dongbin Drunk at Yueyang Tower Three Times is a well-known Chinese Taoist tale often depicted in plays, novels, and other forms of art. It tells the story of Lü Dongbin, who helps two spirits, a willow and a plum, to become immortals. He reincarnated them as humans, had them marry, and tested their devotion through many difficult trials. The story recounts that Lü Dongbin visited Yueyang Tower and met the willow spirit, who wanted to become a god but was trapped in a wooden body. Lü Dongbin told the willow spirit to be reborn as a human, promising to return and help him after thirty years.

The willow spirit was reborn as Guo Maer, and the plum spirit as He Lamei. They grew up, married, and opened a teahouse below Yueyang Tower. Lü Dongbin visited Guo Maer twice, but Guo was unable to understand his guidance. On his third visit, Lü Dongbin instructed Guo Maer to kill his wife and become a monk. Though Guo Maer couldn』t bring himself to do it, He Lamei still died, and he was blamed for her death. Later that day, Lü Dongbin returned and revealed that He Lamei was not truly dead. The judges then realized they were all immortals in disguise. Guo Maer learned he was the reincarnated willow spirit, and He Lamei the plum spirit. Together, they followed Lü Dongbin into the Dao and became immortals.

Modern worship

From the early 19th century on, Lüzu's messages were received through Fuji (planchette writing) (扶乩/扶箕), which led to the establishment of a network of Lüzu spirit writing halls throughout China, called Zanhuagong (贊化宮). They also offered medical oracles and healing services. Famous Zanhuagong were established in Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

In 19th- and 20th-century Guangdong, belief in the powers of Lüzu was strong. In the century after the 1840s, additional temples were founded which organized Fuji (planchette writing) seances, festivals for the birthdays of the gods, death rituals, and running schools, clinics, and disaster relief.

Media depictions

• In the television show Jackie Chan Adventures, Dongbin was shown to be the immortal who sealed away Shendu, The Fire Demon.

• Jackie Chan portrayed Lü Dongbin in the film The Forbidden Kingdom.

• In the web serial novel Desolate Era, Lü Dongbin is portrayed as one of the True Yang Immortals.