Blue and White Meiping Vase, China, Marked YongzhengIn Chinese mythology, Eight Immortals are a group of Taoist individuals who were born during the Tang and Song dynasties who possess magical powers to aid and benefit mankind. Among them, the repugnant crippled beggar with bulging eyes carrying a double gourd is known as Li Tie Gaui, who, according to legend, was a handsome young man who could transcend this world and visit with the spirits. On one such journey, his disciple, fearing he had died, burned Li's body. When Li returned to find his body a pile of ashes, he was forced to enter the body of a crippled beggar who had just died. This finely crackled blue and white Meiping vase with a silver rim depicts Li Ti Gaui, the patron of doctors and pharmacists, cripples, beggars, and social undesirables, leaning on his iron crutch while smoke rises from his double gourd vase. Another immortal joins Li Ti Gaui in the painting to offer help to Taoist believers. It is marked on the base with the reign marks of Yongzheng, who ruled from 1723-1735. 18/19th century. 6 inches